Mounting pressure on the Centre to on the Sri Lankan Tamil issue, 13 Dravida Munnetra Kazhgham members of Parliament, including seven union ministers, on Friday night submitted their resignation to party patriarch and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Thursday demanded a joint investigation by India and the United Arab Emirates into the firing on fishermen by a United States navy ship that resulted in the death of one of them as also interim compensation to the injured.
Unhappy over the portfolios allotted to its ministers, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has decided not to assume office till 'the mistakes are rectified'.
The Lok Sabha witnessed unruly scenes during Question Hour today as Congress and Telugu Desam Party members raised the Telangana issue and DMK members of Parliament protested holding of Commonwealth Summit in Sri Lanka.
This time round, even 'petrol coupons' were reportedly distributed for those attending campaign rallies, especially those addressed by top leaders, cutting across party lines. If this owed to the rising cost of petrol and diesel -- which is a poll issue this time -- there were the customary coupons for 'quarter' (liquor bottle size) and non-vegetarian biryani. Some media reports claimed that some of these 'crowds' attended more than one political rally on the same day in the last week, and at times for rival political parties in adjoining constituencies or districts, says N Sathiya Moorthy.
Voicing concern over Tamil Nadu fishermen being caught by Sri Lankan navy, the Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the Centre and state government on petitions filed by Dravida Munetra Kazhagam and All India Anna Dravida Munetra Kazhagam members of Parliament for release of those languishing in jails there.