TN lawmakers need not fear coronavirus in Assembly: CM

Chennai, March 20 (IANS) Reacting to the suggestion to adjourn the Tamil Nadu Assembly session, Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Friday said that lawmakers need not harbour any fear of coronavirus while attending the House proceedings.Speaking in the Assembly, Palaniswami referred to Leader of Opposition M.K. Stalin's suggestion to adjourn the House and said that only when the Assembly is in session that the state's people could be apprised of the situation prevailing in the country."People have elected us to perform certain work. Only in the Assembly can the people's problems be discussed. There need not be any fear of contracting the disease by being in the Assembly," Palaniswami said.He said that public fear can be erased only when the Assembly was functional.The Chief Minister said that small-scale sector units were functioning in Tamil Nadu as usual despite the coronavirus scare.Earlier, DMK leader Stalin said that the state government has been advising people not to gather in large numbers in public but questioned if it was right for the lawmakers to be present in the Assembly amid the coronavirus scare.Stalin said several states had adjourned sessions of their respective Assemblies.According to Stalin, public representatives need be be in their constituencies to assuage their constituent's fears at such times.
--IANS vj/tsb