Under fire from the Opposition, Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal today insisted that he was discharging his duties in a fair and honest manner.
Dhanapal's response came in the wake of DMK leader Duraimurugan making some remarks against the Chair in the midst of exchanges between AIADMK and DMK during a debate on the grants for Cooperation and Food and Consumer Protection departments in the Assembly.
"I am running the House in a fair and honest manner and according to my conscience. The Chief Minister (J Jayalalithaa) made me Speaker reposing faith in me and I will have to live up to it," Dhanapal, who had replaced D Jayakumar as Speaker in 2012, said.
However, Duraimurugan denied making any comments against Dhanapal.
The two parties often clash in the floor of the Tamil Nadu Assembly while debating issues. On certain occasions when DMK members are evicted on the orders of the Speaker, they are seen raising slogans.
During the ongoing session of the Assembly, members of Opposition parties including CPI (M) and Congress were also seen arguing with the Speaker on certain issues.
