DMK MP triggers row calling Union Minister Murugan ‘unfit’ to be..

New Delhi: DMK leader TR Baalu has sparked a row in the Lok Sabha after describing Union Minister L Murugan ‘unfit to be an MP or minister’.

The incident occurred during a discussion on the centre’s aid for rebuilding Tamil Nadu after the floods.

The BJP accused DMK MP of insulting a Dalit minister and sought his apology.

It all began when Union Minister L Murugan intervened Baalu, saying that the DMK members were asking ‘irrelevant’ questions.

Baalu quickly came down on Union Minister L Murugan, who is also from Tamil Nadu, saying that the minister, ‘should know some discipline. You 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.’

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi threw his weight behind the Minister L Murugan, questioning Baalu: ‘How can you call him unfit? It is unfair.’

Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal stepped in, saying: ‘This is not good. How can you call a minister unfit? You should withdraw this remark. You must apologise. He is a Dalit minister. You are insulting Dalits. We will not tolerate this.’ Both the BJP and DMK members traded barbs, raised slogans.

However, when it was calm again, Baalu went on to speak only to emphasize that L Murugan was ‘unfit to be in politics’, sparking uproar again.

DMK MP Raja told news agency ANI that the party members got agitated at the 'evasive and irresponsible' reply to questions on flood relief.