The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Congress MLA demands ban on MDMK, others

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Wednesday, Apr 25, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Congress MLA demands ban on MDMK, others

Special Correspondent

Continuing support to LTTE by some outfits an anti-national act: Arul Anbarasu

CHENNAI: A Congress member created a stir in the Assembly on Tuesday by demanding a ban on various political outfits, including the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), for "supporting the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)."

Arul Anbarasu, who participated in the debate on the demand for grants for theHighways Department, said it was the State Government's responsibility to ban the pro-LTTE outfits so that the State did not witness a gory incident similar to the Rajiv Gandhi assassination.

He described the continuing support to the LTTE by some outfits as an anti-national act. The LTTE had lost the sympathy of the people of Tamil Nadu and the country in the wake of the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, he said.

However, he made it clear that the Congress leadership had never failed to raise its voice to safeguard the interest of the island Tamils whenever they faced problems.

As Mr.Anbarasu referred to an earlier incident in the Assembly, MDMK legislators were on their feet, objecting to his remarks.

Deputy Speaker V.P. Duraisamy said he would go through the speech copy before taking a decision on the issue. Subsequently, Speaker R. Avudaiappan expunged certain remarks of Mr.Anbarasu.

Road laying works

Intervening in the debate, Minister for Highways M.P. Saminathan said the Thanuppillai panel probing alleged irregularities in road laying works undertaken by the AIADMK Government had already completed its first phase of inquiry. The committee would have its next sitting on May 3 and it was expected to submit its final report shortly. Truth would come out soon, he averred.

Referring to deputy leader of the Opposition O.Panneerselvam's plea, Mr.Saminathan said the Government would look into the complaint of duplication of road maintenance work in the Pukkathuri-Uthiramerur section.

C. Durairaj (AIADMK) urged the Government to relax rules to take up road laying works in forest areas.

Deputy leader of the Pattali Makkal Katchi K.Arumugam pleaded for a panel of eminent persons to monitor the implementation of major road projects. N. Nanmaran of the Communist Party of India-Marxist called for more transparency in the execution of works.

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