New Delhi: AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP Sasikala Pushpa has been sacked from the party a day after she slapped DMK MP Tiruchy Siva at the Delhi airport. Later, party chief J Jayalalithaa sought an explanation from Pushpa. Pushpa who did not want to resign from the party returned to Delhi on Sunday. Pushpa alleged in the Rajya Sabha on Monday that she was being forced to resign from the post. As the Rajya Sabha proceedings started, Pushpa told the Speaker that she was being threatened and forced to resign from the MP post. Pushpa told the Speaker that Jayalalithaa was harassing her and she too was slapped by Jayalalithaa. As the Speaker tried to stop her reminding that she could not make allegations against people who were not in the House, she said she needs protection as there was a threat to her life. The Speaker said she could write to the Chairman for the same.
As the dramatic scenes were going on in RS, AIADMK headquarters in Chennai has issued a statement sacking her from the party “for bringing ill fame to the party.” On Sunday, a day after Pushpa herself claimed that she slapped DMK MP Siva at the Delhi airport, Jayalalithaa had summoned her at Poes Garden residence. Party sources said Jayalalithaa had blasted her and sought a written apology and resignation from MP post. “She apologised at Jayalalithaa’s residence. Since she didn’t want to resign from her post, she went on to RS alleging that Jayalalithaa had slapped her,” said a senior leader.
On Saturday evening, Pushpa claimed that she slapped DMK MP Siva after “he exceeded all limits while criticising Amma (Jayalalithaa) and her government.” The incident happened when Pushpa and Siva were waiting for the security clearance at the Delhi airport.
Sources in both DMK and AIADMK said both Pushpa and Siva were not mere MPs from rival parties but very good friends. “They were like best friends. May be that is why Siva did not file a complaint after she slapped him. I assume that this scuffle at the Delhi airport on Saturday might have been a personal fight although Pushpa had later claimed that she slapped him for criticising Jayalalithaa,” said a DMK leader.
