The resolution introduced by chief minister MK Stalin said the central government should immediately commence the census work along with caste-based population census this time.
“This House considers that caste-based population census is essential to formulate policies in order to ensure equal rights and equal opportunities in education, economy and employment to every citizen of India,” the resolution stated. The legislators belonging to various political parties, including the BJP supported the resolution which was adopted by the House in the absence of the principal Opposition AIADMK members who were suspended from the Assembly for disrupting the proceedings. Tamil Nadu Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Edappadi Palaniswami and several All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) MLAs were suspended for the entire assembly session. The suspension came after AIADMK MLAs raised slogans against the DMK government over the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy and demanded the resignation of chief minister MK Stalin.
This is the third time the AIADMK MLAs have been evicted from the House, following their protests over the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy. Stalin, who was in the House, said that even though the government was ready to discuss the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, where the death toll has risen to 61, Palaniswami was not ready to participate in the debate.