Chaos Erupts in Tamil Nadu Assembly Over Anna University Assault Incident, AIADMK Members Removed
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Chennai, Jan 6 (NationPress) The initial day of the Tamil Nadu Assembly session erupted into chaos as AIADMK opposition members were expelled from the House for bringing attention to the Anna University sexual assault case.
AIADMK General Secretary and Leader of Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami led his party MLAs into the House adorned with badges stating “Yaar Antha Sir?” (Who is that Sir?), referencing the recent incident at Anna University.
Palaniswami and fellow AIADMK members shouted slogans, demanding clarity from the DMK government concerning the phrase “Who is that Sir?” This triggered tumultuous scenes, ultimately leading to the forceful removal of AIADMK legislators from the Assembly.
The sexual assault transpired on December 23, when a second-year engineering student and her male friend, a senior at Anna University, were seated in a secluded area of the campus after attending a Christmas event.
The victim reported that the assailant attacked her male companion, subjecting him to a severe beating, before dragging her into nearby bushes and assaulting her sexually.
The police responded promptly, apprehending a 37-year-old roadside biryani vendor, Gnanshekharan, in relation to the incident.
In a further escalation of political tensions, the Greater Chennai police detained AIADMK Students’ Wing Secretary, Singai Ramachandran, and others as they tried to distribute black armbands to students of Anna University in protest of the sexual assault. This protest was arranged despite police denial of permission for demonstrations.
The AIADMK student faction had declared a protest against the assault, scheduled to occur outside the Anna University campus at 8:30 a.m. on January 6. Nevertheless, police cautioned student leaders of potential arrest should the demonstration proceed. On the morning of the event, heavy police presence was observed at the university, and Singai Ramachandran was taken into custody.
The AIADMK signaled its plan to address the detentions of their student leaders, including Singai Ramachandran, during the Assembly session. Meanwhile, in a surprising turn of events, Governor R.N. Ravi exited the inaugural Assembly session, accusing Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Speaker M. Appavu of showing disrespect towards the Constitution and the National Anthem.
The Raj Bhavan stated that the Tamil Nadu Assembly once again insulted the “Constitution of Bharat” and the National Anthem by failing to sing it.
