BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran criticised Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar for his remarks on the arrest of DMK MLA G.V. Markandayan, saying they contradicted Assembly traditions and parliamentary rules.
Nainar Nagenthran stated on Tuesday that the Speaker must be informed of any arrest of an MP or MLA as per both tradition and rules. He accused the Speaker of favouring the ruling party by claiming that prior permission was unnecessary.
The BJP leader urged the Speaker to stay neutral. He also said false cases appeared to have been filed against the MLA and noted that only a court could decide the matter.
Nagenthran recalled that permission from then Prime Minister Morarji Desai was obtained before the arrest of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He referred to the book Practice and Procedure of Parliament by M.N. Kaul and S.L. Shakdher.