TN higher education minister P Viswanathan
The laughter peaked when Udhayanidhi rose and remarked that the minister’s style of answering appeared to carry a message for other MLAs: “Don’t rush to ask me questions; think twice before doing so”. Already, the assembly session is stretched for long hours,” Nehru had said. It may be recalled that former minister K N Nehru had expressed his anguish over Viswanathan’s habit last week. “He may be a poet, but he cannot repeat everything twice.
He eventually said the proposal would be discussed with the PWD department. CHENNAI: When DMK MLA A C Vilwanathan wanted to know whether the Tamil Nadu govt would establish a sports stadium for the Puratchi Thalaivar MGR Govt Arts and Science College at Madhanur in Vellore district, he expected a yes or no reply or just a reply in a few words. As the answer drifted further from the question, speaker J C D Prabhakar stepped in and asked the minister to be precise. But Viswanathan continued in his own style, prompting opposition members to repeatedly ask, amid laughter, whether the govt would build the stadium or not. Even members on the treasury benches struggled to contain their laughter. As he attempted to elaborate further, the opposition benches resumed their good-natured ribbing. “What is the problem, sir? You are not allowing me to say anything. Then what am I supposed to do?” the minister protested, drawing another round of laughter.
But higher education minister P Viswanathan on Tuesday turned it into a lengthy reply speaking even about other colleges in the district without coming to the point, making it a laughter-filled episode and prompting leader of opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin to say jokingly that MLAs may think twice before asking the minister questions in future.