: The Tamil Nadu assembly today witnessed a verbal duel between the ruling AIADMK and opposition DMK and DMDK members over an under construction bridge at Krishnagiri District, where a backhoe loader accidentally hit it.
DMDK member S R Parthiban referred to a mishap involving an overbridge being built across the river Thenpennaiyaru near Hosur in Krishnagiri District and passed a remark, which was later expunged by Speaker P Dhanapal.
Highways Minister Edappadi K Palaniswamy said the mishap occurred accidentally after the backhoe loader hit the structure and refuted an allegation by the DMDK member which was expunged and condemned the member.
He also alleged that the "son of a DMK MLA" had taken the contract for construction of the bridge.
DMDK members rose to their feet demanding that the minister's "condemnation" also be expunged which was not done.
Finance Minister O Paneerselvam said condemnation was not an unparliamentary word and asserted that the minister had a right to condemn if charges were levelled without any proof.
While DMK member Suba Thangavelan demanded that the minister name the MLA, deputy floor leader Duraimurugan said Social Welfare Minister B Valarmathi had mentioned the name of T Senguttuvan, an MLA of his party on this issue.
"I cross checked it. Senguttuvan says his son had not taken contract for this bridge," he said.
Senguttuvan said his son was not involved in the bridge project.
Refuting it, Minister Palaniswamy showed a sheaf of papers and claimed Senguttuvan's son was a partner in the firm which had taken the contract.
To this, Senguttuvan replied that his son had quit the firm a "long time ago" and another person had taken the contract and added it was not appropriate to level a charge without proper enquiry.
