AIADMK and DMK members clashed in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday with the former accusing the erstwhile Karunanidhi government of ''looting'' the state exchequer and alleging that four ministers in the DMK government had amassed over Rs.1,450 crore. During zero hour, C Kuppuswamy of DMK referred to a news report in a Tamil eveninger of tapping of telephones of DMK leaders.

This triggered vociferous protests from AIADMK members who charged that this was aimed at preventing the police and other investigating agencies from probing corruption charges against former DMK Ministers.

Environment minister T R Baalu of the DMK sought to cool down tempers, saying the state police had already clarified the position. At one stage, Minister of State for Health A Raja, who was vehemently putting his point across, was ticked off by Deputy Speaker P M Sayeed who gently reminded that he was a minister.
AIADMK leader P H Pandian said it was ''very easy to plant a news item''and said angrily, ''I am warning you. You will have to face the music''.

He said raids conducted by the investigating agencies in Tamil Nadu had revealed large-scale ''looting'' of state resources by certain members of the DMK government. Bureau Report