Published in The New Indian Express, Chennai on Jan 28, 2012:
CHENNAI: Taking strong exception to the repeated brawls breaking out inside the Corporation during council meetings between DMK and AIADMK members, Mayor S Duraisamy ordered the ruling party members to adhere to the decorum of the House or face eviction.
Reprimanding a group of AIADMK members, who began a verbal duel with the opposition DMK members, Duraisamy said, “When a Mayor calls for normalcy inside the House, all the members, even if they are from the ruling party, have to obey it. If you (AIADMK members) denounce the order, I will not hesitate to order eviction to bring order to the Council.” The issue was triggered by the Open Space Reservation (OSR) violations by the DMK head office, Anna Arivalayam.
Irked with the attitude shown by a group of AIADMK councillors, Duraisamy further added, “Actions such as entering into a brawl or using unparliamentary words against the opposition DMK councillors would only defame the reputation of Amma (Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa) and I don’t want any such embarrassment to the Puratchi Thalaivi, especially from the Chennai Corporation Council proceedings.”He went on to chide the councillors, many of whom were women, “If you want to prove your muscle power, go outside (The Ripon Buildings)and prove wherever you want. This historic Council Hall is a place for healthy discussions and this tradition should be honoured at any cost,” he said firmly.It may be noted that the Mayor had, in last month’s council meet, also taken umbrage to the fact that AIADMK councillors were provoking DMK councillors to stage walkouts for no valid reason. “The House has a decorum which elected members should give due reverence to. We should only witness heated debates - fist-fights are not good for a healthy democracy,” Duraisamy advised the members, in closing.
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