In the midst of his speech, AIADMK MP P Rajarethinam representing the Perambalur constituency, abruptly turned on the DMK government, flaying what he termed its ``lethargic attitude'' towards implementation of welfare schemes. ``The DMK government did nothing even when the UF government, of which the DMK was a constituent, was in power,'' he charged.

Warming to his theme, he said the DMK government was yet to implement the Sethu Samudhiram project as also the provision for 69 per cent reservation in the state. But what got to the increasingly agitated DMK cadres, who had turned up in large numbers for the function, was Rajarethinam's statement accusing Chief Minister MKarunanidhi -- who was present at the function -- of ``doing nothing for the welfare of the backward classes''.

Infuriated DMK workers rose in protest, demanding that Rajarethinam leave the stage immediately, but the MP held on, railing against Karunanidhi and his government. Some of the protestors rose from their seats even as others charged towards the dais, umbrellas held aloft. The police found it difficult to pacify the irate throng, which refused to back off until the MP went back to his seat.

Sensing that trouble could break out at the end of the function, Kumaramangalam decided to give the MP a ride in his car only to have stones pelted at the vehicle by DMK workers who mistook it for Rajarethinam's own car. It was a while before the police could bring the situation under control.

Union Railway Minister Nitish Kumar, who was also on the dais, had to be briefed about the events that led to the commotion.

Even as the protests continued, Karunanidhi, Power Minister Rangarajan Kumaramangalam andMinister of State for Health and Family Welfare Dalit Ezhilmalai gestured to the activists to remain calm and take their seats.

DMK MP T R Baalu went up to the microphone and appealed to the workers to stay calm but in vain.Sensing that the situation was going out of control, Karunanidhi took the mike and asked his party members to keep calm even as Rajarethinam at the other end of the dais, continued his tirade.

The police found themselves in a piquant situation, unable to either stop the members from shouting or ask the MP to cut short his speech.

Rajarethinam's `speech' ended only when someone switched off the microphone. This still did not mollify the DMK cadres who erupted in a roar of protest every time the offending MP's name was mentioned by successive speakers.