BJP State president Nainar Nagenthran on Tuesday said that the observations of Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar over the arrest of DMK MLA G.V. Markandayan were contradictory to the traditions of the Assembly and against Parliamentary rules.

Mr. Nagenthran said it was not only a tradition, but also part of rules that the Speaker was to be informed if an MP or an MLA was arrested.

Instead of being impartial, the Speaker has spoken in favour of the ruling party by saying that his permission was not necessary for the arrest of an MLA, Mr. Nagenthran said.

It was condemnable, he said and further urged the Speaker to remain neutral.

In a statement, Mr. Nagenthran referred to the arrest and remand of Mr. Markandayan and said: “One could not accept false cases being foisted on him (the MLA) by using this opportunity. Only the court could decide on that.”

When former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was arrested, it was carried out only after having obtained permission from then Prime Minister Morarji Desai, Mr. Nagenthran recalled and referred to the ‘Practice and Procedure of Parliament’ by M.N. Kaul and S.L. Shakdher.

Published - July 22, 2026 05:15 am IST