Congress legislators M. Vaithianathan and Ramesh Parambath on Monday staged a walkout in the Puducherry Assembly to protest against the government decision to issue no objection certificate (NOC) for starting liquor manufacturing units.

Just as Speaker invited legislators to start general discussion on the budget, Mr Vaithianathan and Mr Parambath stood up and announced their decision to walkout on the issue of giving NOC.

Two days ago, journalists had at a press conference pointed out to former Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy the differences in the way the NOC issue was handled by Congress and its legislators. 

The two legislators along with DMK MLAs remained silent when Chief Minister N. Rangasamy announced the government’s decision in the Assembly last week to issue NOC for starting six liquor blending and bottling units..  Mr. Narayanasamy had informed the media that the Congress party legislators would raise the issue in a “big way“ in the House on Monday.