DMK walks out of TN Assembly over Shekher's arrest

Opposition DMK in the Tamil Nadu Assembly today tried to raise their demand for the arrest of BJP politician S Ve Shekher in the House but staged a walkout after the Chair denied them permission to debate the matter as it was sub-judice.

Shekher had courted controversy after he shared a Facebook post on his page that contained derogatory remarks against journalists, especially women scribes.

The actor-politician had shared the post in the backdrop of another controversy surrounding Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, who had patted on the cheek of a woman reporter after a press conference recently.

While the city police had filed a case against Shekher, various courts had dismissed his anticipatory bail petitions.

When Leader of Opposition M K Stalin tried to raise the issue of Shekher's arrest today, Speaker P Dhanapal said a local court has now issued summons to him to appear before it on June 20 and a charge-sheet has been filed in the case.

Since the matter was sub-judice, it cannot be discussed, the Speaker said, even though Stalin insisted he be allowed to speak on the matter.

DMK members were seen supporting him, urging the Chair to allow him make his statement.

However, the Speaker stood his ground, repeatedly asserting that sub-judice matters are not debated in the state Assembly.

Subsequently, Stalin protested the decision and led a walkout of his party members, even as his ally, the Congress, stayed back.