The Hindu : I have done nothing wrong: Kannappan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 24, 2003

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I have done nothing wrong: Kannappan

By Our Special Correspondent

Coimbatore Sept. 23. The Union Minister and MDMK treasurer, M. Kannappan, today termed the letter of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, to the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, demanding his expulsion from the Union Council of Ministers for his expression of support to the LTTE as "dictatorial and illegal suppression".

Addressing a press conference here, he said the use of the Prevention of Terrorism Act against political leaders by Ms. Jayalalithaa was "overstepping the limits (of decency)."

Rebutting her letter, he contended that his speeches in support of the LTTE did not in any way affect the "sovereignty" of the nation or "the oath of office".

He had all along been offering only moral support to the LTTE which was struggling for the cause of Sri Lankan Tamils."

I have done nothing wrong. We have never extended any assistance to LTTE — whether in terms of weapons or funds. Nor would we do in future," he maintained.

He asserted that his speeches had neither instigated anybody nor caused any violence. Ms. Jayalalithaa had written a similar letter to the Prime Minister last year for which the Attorney-General, Soli Sorabjee, had given a categorical explanation that "a mere expression of support to a terrorist organisation per se, without actual aid to it, would not amount to an offence under the POTA."

He had also declared that Mr. Kannappan's statement "cannot be regarded as inviting support to the LTTE within the meaning of Sec. 21 (1) ( of POTA) and there is no contravention of the POTA."

Asked whether he would resign in order to spare the Prime Minister from a "potentially embarrassing situation", Mr. Kannappan "there is no need for me to resign because of what Ms. Jayalalithaa says. However, it is up to the Prime Minister to decide." To a question, he said a Union Minister "cannot be arrested by the State Government. However, anything can happen in Tamil Nadu as there is no regard for law and convention in this State."

He denied that the MDMK leaders meeting the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, on Monday, had anything to do with the letter of Ms. Jayalalithaa.

Dismissing the view that the BJP had not come to the rescue of the MDMK at such an hour of crisis, Mr. Kannappan said even the affidavit filed by the Centre in support of the MDMK's petition to the Supreme Court in connection with the arrest of MDMK leader, Vaiko, was a clear testimony to its good intentions.

He also hailed the BJP president, Venkaiah Naidu's condemnation of Ms. Jayalalithaa's letter to the Prime Minister.

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