Verbal duel between Sumanthiran and Raghavan

A heated exchange ensued in Parliament yesterday between TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran and SLPP MP Dr. Suren Raghavan on the political prisoner issue.

MP Sumanthiran accused MP Raghavan of failing to secure the release of Tamil Political prisoners despite being a member of the government.

The latter responded by questioning the steps taken by the former to have the prisoners freed.

A heated exchange took place between the two resulting in Sumanthiran at one point telling Raghavan to stop barking like a dog.

MP Sumanthiran also told the government not to play politics with the issue of Tamil prisoners.

He urged the government to free the prisoners immediately.

He called on the government to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) under which the Tamils had been arrested and jailed.