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AIADMK regime vindictive towards opponents: DMK

By Our Staff Reporter

ARUPPUKOTTAI, MAY 1. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president, M. Karunanidhi, yesterday accused the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) regime of taking vindictive steps against political opponents.

Referring to the Maharashtra Government withdrawing a Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) case against a person belonging to a minority community immediately after the POTA Review Committee found him not guilty of the charges, he asked, "Why did the AIADMK not follow suit in the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader, Vaiko's case? It still wants to go on appeal challenging the panel's recommendation with a vindictive attitude."

Mr. Karunanidhi alleged that the police on Thursday "deliberately" made him to wait on the road in Tirunelveli (where the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, was electioneering) to prevent him from addressing a meeting at Kayalpattinam. He said the Chief Minister was indulging in cheap tactics and he did not want to stoop to such a level.

The DMK, the MDMK and the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) pulled out of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) only to prevent the Bharatiya Janata Party from "injecting poison" into society, Mr. Karunanidhi said.

He clarified that the DMK opposed POTA at the right forum and said the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, who had promised that the State governments would not be allowed to `misuse' POTA against their political opponents, "deceived us." He said the BJP was rattled by the exit polls. The party which vowed to form a Government independently was now ready to form a coalition Government. "The exit polls have unseated Mr. Vajpayee one month in advance," the DMK chief said.

The Democratic Progressive Alliance was not formed to capture power but to work for the welfare of the people, he said. "If that was the motive, why did Mr. Vaiko not contest the election."

Mr. Karunanidhi sought votes for the Sivakasi MDMK candidate, `Sippipari' A. Ravichandran, and the Ramanathapuram DMK candidate, M.S.K. Bhavani Rajendran, to form a secular Government.

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