Goa, Aug. 27 -- The Tamil Nadu Assembly debate over the ruling TVK government's decision to scrap the proposed Parandur airport project took an unexpected turn on Wednesday, with the discussion descending into a political exchange over the alleged influence of two prominent "sons-in-law".

Law Minister Nirmal Kumar, defending the government's decision to abandon the Parandur project, alleged that the previous DMK government had promoted the airport proposal in a manner that could benefit individuals who had invested their "black money" around the proposed site.

In an apparent reference to Sabareesan, the son-in-law of DMK president and Chief Minister MK Stalin, Kumar used the phrase "G Square Mapillai". The remark, which alluded to real ...