Tamil Nadu Disbands University Named After Jayalalithaa, AIADMK Protests

The Tamil Nadu government passed a Bill in the Assembly to integrate a varsity named after late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa with another state-run institution, the Annamalai University.

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government in Tamil Nadu today passed a Bill in the Assembly to integrate a varsity named after late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa with another state-run institution, the Annamalai University, while the main opposition AIADMK staged a walkout from the House and held a road roko as well protesting against the move and dubbed it "political vendetta." When Minister for Higher Education, K Ponmudy introduced a Bill in this regard in the House, AIADMK deputy leader O Panneerselvam and KP Anbalagan opposed it and the members of the principal opposition party staged a walkout. AIADMK's ally BJP too opposed the move. Led by Panneerselvam, AIADMK MLAs staged a protest by blocking Wallajah Road in front of "Kalaivanar Arangam," where the Assembly proceedings are being held. They were later removed from the spot by police and lodged in a hall. Mr Panneerselvam alleged that the DMK government acted with political vendetta by disbanding a varsity named after "Amma" Jayalalithaa and integrating it with Annamalai University. He said his party opposed the move in the Assembly in the introductory stage itself.