The Lok Sabha on Tuesday witnessed an uproar after Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader T.R. Baalu made a controversial remark against Minister of State L. Murugan during the Question Hour, with ruling party member accusing the DMK leader of insulting a Dalit.
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Senior Ministers urged Mr. Baalu to apologise but he did not accept their demands. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expunged the remark.
The DMK members along with the Congress and Left MPs staged a walk out.
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The face off happened during the Question Hour when DMK’s A. Raja and Congress’ Manickam Tagore were asking supplementary questions related to flood relief to Tamil Nadu.
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When DMK and Congress members expressed their dissatisfaction to the replies of the Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, Mr. Baalu got up to ask another supplementary.
At that point of time, Mr. Murugan, who is the junior Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, said the DMK leader was asking an “irrelevant” question.
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Hitting back, Mr. Baalu then questioned his competence as a Minister. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, his deputy Arjun Ram Meghwal, several other Minister and BJP MPs were on their feet protesting against the Mr. Baalu’s remark.
They claimed a Dalit Minister and the entire Dalit community has been insulted and demanded an apology.
But Mr. Baalu remained defiant, prompting the ruling party members to protest again. As the Speaker expunged the remark, the Opposition walked out.