Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

Jail bharo only to draw attention to POTA misuse: DMK

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI Sept. 23. Even while condemning the Tamil Nadu Government's threat to detain under the Prevention of Terrorism Act the MDMK representative in the Union Cabinet, M. Kannappan, for his reported pro-LTTE speech, the DMK leader, M. Karunanidhi, today defended his party's decision to stage a ``court arrest programme" on December 1 seeking repeal of the anti-terrorism law.

The protest was not against the National Democratic Alliance Government. "It is only to draw the Centre's attention (to the misuse of the POTA) and in that sense it is morally right," Mr. Karunanidhi told newspersons here. However, he conceded that it was indeed strange that the DMK was remaining in the NDA, but still going ahead with the protest... But "we feel it is necessary".

When newspersons sought his reaction to the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa's letter to the Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee, seeking the removal of Mr. Kannappan for his pro-LTTE speeches, especially in the light of a DMK resolution seeking repeal of the POTA, Mr. Karunanidhi said it was condemnable that the legislation was being "repeatedly misused". He recalled that during a debate in Parliament before the POTA was enacted, the DMK warned of possible misuse of the law. The Prime Minister himself had on a few occasions, addressing meetings, said some State Governments were misusing the POTA. When the former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, brought in the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, the BJP opposed it. Now despite knowing how dangerous the POTA effect could be, the BJP was for continuance of the legislation, the DMK leader said.

To a query whether Ms. Jayalalithaa's letter Mr. Vajpayee had a threatening tone, Mr. Karunanidhi quipped, "What can I do in the confrontation between a prospective Prime Minister and the present Prime Minister?"

Asked whether a rift was developing between the BJP and the DMK on the POTA issue, he said the DMK continued to maintain its stance even while remaining in the NDA. "We are clear that as long as the law remains, it will be possible to misuse the same." Asked about the Congress leader, S. Balakrishnan's statement that the DMK's stand against the POTA showed a rift, Mr. Karunanidhi said other political parties had a right to comment on the DMK's decisions and they were exercising it.

Would the DMK remain in the NDA on December 1 (the protest day)? Mr. Karunanidhi said, "We will know soon..."

PMK plea

Meanwhile, the PMK founder-leader, S. Ramadoss, said if the State Government detained Mr. Kannappan under the POTA, the Centre would have to take serious action. "In case he is arrested, only the Centre can act. We hope such an action by the Centre will be a serious one," he told newspersons here.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Development activity, land transaction frozen in 2 Kancheepuram villages
• The road map
• SHGs have ushered in rural economic revolutions: CM
• Defence grills Tirumangalam SI
• Hearing on plea against Gopal bail today
• List of extremists distributed to personnel guarding CM
• PMK stages protest against high fees
• Provide quota for refugee students: Swamy plea in HC
• It's political vendetta, says Vaiko
• Jail bharo only to draw attention to POTA misuse: DMK
• TN in need of nationalist party, says Venkaiah Naidu

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu