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AIADMK members walk out of LS, RS

All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam members today staged a walk out in both Houses of Parliament seeking dismissal of the Karunanidhi government in Tamil Nadu.

As soon as the two Houses met this morning, AIADMK members were on their feet, demanding suspension of the question hour and instead holding a discussion on the law and order situation in the state.

In the Lok Sabha, the protest was led by Dr Subramanian Swamy of the Janata Party, who trooped into the well of the House with AIADMK members.

In the Rajya Sabha, AIADMK member G Swaminathan was on his feet as soon as the question hour began demanding dismissal of the Tamil Nadu government for its alleged failure to check Pakistan-backed terrorism. But chairman Krishan Kant rejected the demand outright saying the matter could be taken up later.

Swamy urged Lok Sabha Speaker G M C Balayogi to suspend question hour and take up a discussion on the law and order situation in Tamil Nadu. He demanded the dismissal of the Karunanidhi government in view of its failure to curb terrorism in the state which he alleged was sponsored by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence directorate.

The Opposition benches countered saying the AIADMK members were incensed in view of the special court order for consfiscation of party supremo J Jayalalita's properties.

Repeated requests by the chair and Congress members, including Rajesh Pilot and Vijayabhaskara Reddy, to Dr Swamy and his colleagues to allow the scheduled business to continue had little effect.

In the meantime, Prime Minister A B Vajpayee walked into the House, talked to AIADMK leader Sedapatti R Muthiah and was able to persuade the AIADMK members to resume their seats. Swamy also walked back to his seat, but continued interrupting the business.

Finally, he signalled to the AIADMK members to join him in a walkout. While Swamy walked out through the middle door, the AIADMK members went out through the side door.

In the Rajya Sabha, as soon as the House met this morning, AIADMK leader Swaminathan was on his feet demanding that the Karunanidhi government be dismissed in view of the deterirating law and order in the state. He alleged that a number of bombs have been recovered from many places in Tamil Nadu.

Krishan Kant told the agitated AIADMK members that question hour could not be suspended and they were free to raise the issue of law and order in Tamil Nadu later.

He also said that they should not have rushed to the well to press their point.

At this stage, the defiant AIADMK members walked out of the House.

Meanwhile, AIADMK members of Parliament, including two Union ministers, yesterday met Vajpayee and complained about political vendetta against their leader by the DMK government.

They demanded action against the Karunanidhi government for the attachment of Jayalalitha's moveable property, worth Rs 115.9 million. This was in connection with the ongoing case against her of possessing assets disproportionate to known sources of income.

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