Chennai: Tamil Nadu speaker J C D Prabhakar on Friday initiated action against DMK MLA G V Markandayan for his controversial remarks against chief minister C Joseph, directing him to appear before the privilege committee of the house.The action was taken based on a complaint from a group of ministers led by PWD minister Aadhav Arjuna. According to the complaint, Markandayan’s speech was against the dignity of the house and was intended to threaten the CM.The speaker said the privilege committee was yet to be constituted and directed Markandayan to appear before the panel once it was set up.DMK whip E V Velu opposed the action, saying that the speech was outside the assembly and Markandayan was arrested for it. “You (speaker) can’t punish Markandayan twice and there is no precedent for it,” Velu said.However, the speaker said that if the speech was against the dignity of the assembly or any member of the house, he had the right to take action.Then, Markandayan expressed regret for his remarks. “Even my party leaders such as former chief minister M K Stalin, leader of opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin and DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi didn’t approve the speech and told me that I shouldn’t have made the remarks. My remarks were a reaction to the remark (made by Vijay in Karur) that the assembly doors will be locked. Those words came without my knowledge and henceforth, I request the house to forget my remarks,” Markandayan said.
