As Baalu did not heed the BJP demand of apology, Speaker expunged the word from the records while the Opposition members staged a walkout.
DMK leader TR Baalu. (X)
The Lok Sabha on Tuesday, 6 February, witnessed a war of words over a remark made by TR Baalu against Union Minister L Murugan, with ruling BJP MPs asking the DMK leader to apologise for “insulting” a Dalit.
As Baalu did not heed the demand, Speaker Om Birla expunged the word from the records while the DMK members along with the Congress and Left MPs staged a walkout.
The incident took place when the House was discussing a question related to flood relief to Tamil Nadu during Question Hour.
After two of his party colleagues asked questions on the subject, Baalu asked a supplementary. At that point of time, Murugan, Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, who also hails from Tamil Nadu, said the DMK leader was asking an “irrelevant” question.
At this, Baalu made a comment against Murugan.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, his deputy Arjun Ram Meghwal, several other ministers and BJP MPs were on their feet protesting against the remark of Baalu.
They claimed that Murugan was a Dalit and that the remark was an “insult” to the entire Dalit community and demanded an apology. However, Baalu repeated the word.
At this, the ruling party members protested again and sought his apology. Soon, the Speaker expunged the remark.
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