Chennai, Mar 27 (UNI) MLAs of the Congress party, a key ally of the
ruling DMK, today came to the Tamil Nadu Assembly by wearing black
shirts to condemn the disqualification of Congress Wayanad MP Rahul
Gandhi following his conviction in a defamation case.
Earlier, before entering the House, Congress MLAs led by its Legislature
Party Leader K Selvaperunthagai, carrying placards expressing their
solidarity with Mr Rahul and condemning his disqualification, staged a
protest outside the Assembly premises.
After Assembly Speaker M.Appavu refused permission to carry placards
inside the House, the Congress MLAs dropped them in the CLP leader's
chamber.
Of the total 18 MLAs, about 11 of them were attired in black shirts and
themparty's newly elected Erode East MLA could not attend the session
as he was undergoing treatment at a hospital for a coronary artery
infection.
The CLP leader said other MLAs would soon join them in the protest.
Mr Selvaperunthagai also sought to raise the issue in the Assembly and
has sought permission from the Speaker for it.
The CLP leader also announced that all the Party MLAs would stage a
sit in protest inside the state assembly on Monday night.
However, the Speaker, citing security reasons, refused permissionf for
them for the protest inside the House.
The Congress MLAs are expected to stage the day and night long sit-in
protest outside the Assembly premises.
Ever since Mr Rahul was disqualified, the Congress had been staging
protests for the last two days and also organised fast to condemn it.
TNCC President K.S.Alagiri said their democratic protests would continue
till the disqualification was revoked.
UNI GV1135