Senior DMK MP T.R. Baalu’s remarks against Union minister L. Murugan triggered an uproar in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, with the BJP members accusing him of insulting a dalit leader and demanding an apology.
An unfazed Baalu, while talking to reporters later, doubled down on his charge and said Murugun was speaking against the interests of Tamil Nadu in the lower house.
It all started during the Question Hour when the DMK MPs were raising questions on the steps taken by the Centre to assist Tamil Nadu following the damage caused by natural disasters.
While Baalu was speaking, Murugan intervened and said the DMK MPs were asking “irrelevant” questions.
In a sharp retort, Baalu said the minister needed to show some discipline. “You (Murugan) are unfit to be a Member of Parliament. You are unfit to be a minister. You don't have any guts to face us; we will teach you,” he said.
What followed was a verbal exchange between the members of the BJP and the DMK, with Union ministers Pralhad Joshi and Arjun Ram Meghwal accusing Baalu of insulting a dalit minister.
"Sir, it is not right to call an SC minister unfit. This is an insult to a Dalit," Joshi said.
"T.R. Baalu was asking a question. A dalit minister of our Council of Ministers stood up and simply said that you are asking irrelevant questions. And you called him unfit. He is also a dalit and also comes from the SC community. You called him unfit. This is an insult to the dalit community. We want Baalu to apologise," Meghwal said.
According to an NDTV report, Baalu, who spoke again in the house, reiterated his stand and said Murugan is “unfit to be in politics”.
Later, talking to reporters, the DMK MP said Murugan, despite being an MP from Tamil Nadu, was speaking against the interest of the state in the Lok Sabha.
"The intervention was made by L. Murugan of Tamil Nadu. That's why we called him a traitor. He spoke against Tamil Nadu's interests," Baalu said.
