JOIN USThe tussle between the DMK and Governor Banwarilal Purohit over the latter's visits to districts and meeting officials reached the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday with the principal opposition party raising the issue.
Members of the DMK, Congress and the IUML staged a walkout from the Assembly after Speaker P Dhanapal disallowed Opposition Leader M K Stalin from raising the issue of Governor's visit. After Stalin attempted to lay siege to the Raj Bhavan on Saturday, the governor's office on Sunday came out with a strong statement contending that the governor enjoys "unhindered freedom" to interact with officials.
The Raj Bhavan press release had also cited section 124 of IPC, which said: "whoever with the intention of inducing or compelling the President of India, or the governor of any state... shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years."
However, Dhanapal refused to allow the discussion saying the House rules forbid any discussion on the governor. But, Stalin recalled past instances where the relevant rule had been relaxed for a debate on the governor and pleaded with the chair to allow him to raise the issue of state autonomy. With the chair sticking to his position, the Opposition MLAs staged a walkout.
"As far as the DMK is concerned, we will continue with our black flag protests if he (Purohit) continues his visits... not just seven years, even if we have to be in prison for our life, DMK is ready to make any sacrifice for ensuring regional autonomy," Stalin told reporters outside the Assembly.
The DMK has been criticising Governor Purohit for his visit and has been showing black flags to him during his visits to districts. The governor's office has been maintaining that the constitutional head was empowered to meet officials and there was nothing wrong in his meetings.