The BJP and the DMK sparred in the Lok Sabha with DMK MP T R Baalu questioning the capabilities of union minister L Murugan. In response, the BJP said that the DMK was insulting Dalits.
During the Lok Sabha proceedings, DMK MPs including A Raja and A Ganeshamurthi spoke about financial assistance to Tamil Nadu, questioning the Centre what has it done to rebuild after the floods. During these discussions, when T R Baalu was speaking, L Murugan, rose and remarked that the DMK members were asking ‘irrelevant’ questions. This led to a heated exchange and Baalu’s words were finally expunged.
Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal rose in protest to the comments. “This is not good. You should withdraw this remark. You must apologise. He is a Dalit minister. You are insulting Dalits. We will not tolerate this,” he said, adding that Baalu had used an ‘unparliamentary’ word in the House.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said, “You have a right to question, but you cannot call our minister names. Who are you to do that,” Joshi said.
The DMK members eventually left the House in protest.
Outside the House, A Raja said that the heated exchange took place after TR Baalu wanted to ask some questions but L Murugan interrupted.
“Murugan stopped him, saying that Tamil Nadu’s demands are not reasonable. So then we said, you are against its interests,” he said.
State BJP president K Annamalai, too, criticised Baalu. “Thiru TR Balu is a disgrace to politics & this is not the first time he has made disgraceful remarks about a member of the Scheduled Caste Community. I strongly condemn these remarks on Hon MoS Thiru @Murugan_MoS avl in the Temple of Democracy (sic),” he posted on X.
Published 06 February 2024, 07:47 IST