Giving a political twist to DMK's demand for proper arrangements to allow party chief M Karunanidhi to enter the Assembly in a wheelchair, ruling AIADMK today cliamed the issue was a fallout of "differences" between the leader and his son M K Stalin.
"This problem is not about Mr Karunanidhi participating in Assembly debates. In reality, it is a problem between the father (Karunanidhi) and son (Stalin)," Finance Minister and Leader of the House, O Panneerselvam said in a statement.
He said since Karunanidhi was the top leader in DMK, he should have been elected Opposition Leader.
"But, due to intra-party issues, due to problems between them, Stalin got himself elected as Opposition Leader," even as other senior leaders were elected as his deputy and party whip, among others, he said.
"Mr Karunanidhi has been given just the status of a member (of the House). Under such circumstances, with Karunanidhi not likely to participate in debates, and to ensure that he is not blamed for this, Mr Stalin has alleged that no proper seating arrangement had been made for Karunanidhi," he said, describing it "as diversionary tactics."
Further, in his letter to Speaker P Dhanapal dated May 25, Stalin had given a list seeking specific seat arrangements for each of the DMK members but had left out Karunanidhi, he said.
"There was no mention of Mr Karunanidhi's name in that list. Mr Stalin had made no mention as to where Karunanidhi should be allotted a seat. This makes it clear that Mr Stalin does not at all like Mr Karunanidhi coming to the Assembly," he alleged.
On June 6, DMK whip R Sakkarapani had submitted a letter with the Speaker, where he had sought seat allocation to Karunanidhi at the place from where he was sworn-in as MLA on May 25, ie. Seat no. 207.
However, he took oath at a row before that seat and he has been accordingly allotted the seat by the Speaker taking into account all these, Panneerselvam said.
"There have been many reports about differences between
DMK President and MLA Mr Karunanidhi and Opposition Leader Mr Stalin. There are reports that Karunanidhi had even boycotted an MLAs' meeting recently while some DMK men are comparing Karunanidhi with (Mughal emperor) Aurangzeb (on sticking to power even in old age) and supporters of both of them are attacking each other on social platform," the minister said.
"Mr Stalin will be disappointed if he thinks that he can make false allegations against the Speaker and divert attention from the issue of his snatching away the Opposition Leader post from Mr Karunanidhi. As Opposition Leader, Mr Stalin should participate in the debate (on Governor's address) starting from June 20, 2016," he said.
Earlier today, the DMK had alleged that adequate facilities had not been made available for wheel-chair bound Karunanidhi to attend the Assembly and took up the matter with the Speaker.
Party Treasurer and Opposition Leader Stalin had said he had asked Speaker P Dhanapal to make adequate arrangements, including seating, for Karunanidhi to have access to the House and participate in its proceedings.
"But the seating has been allotted in the second row where his wheelchair cannot go. Therefore adequate arrangements have to be made for him," Stalin had said.
