The Hindu : Front Page : Jayalalithaa alleges threat to life

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 18, 2007
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Jayalalithaa alleges threat to life

Special Correspondent

Cites Tuesday’s incident of intruder entering her house

CHENNAI: All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa has alleged that her life is under threat and that Tuesday’s incident of an intruder entering her house could be viewed only in this context.

(The police arrested P. Dhandapani of Dharapuram on charges of trespass after he entered Ms. Jayalalithaa’s residence.)

Terming the incident a “sinister occurrence,” she said the party would take up the issue with the President, the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister, besides moving the court seeking adequate protection. It had already given letters to the State Home Secretary, the Director-General of Police and the City Commissioner of Police, Ms. Jayalalithaa told newsmen here on Wednesday. Asserting that she had reliable information that her political opponents were trying to eliminate her, she said the incident was part of a conspiracy. “By God’s grace I escaped,” she said.

Veeraswami’s response

Giving details of the incident in the Assembly amid slogan shouting by AIADMK members, Electricity Minister Arcot N. Veeraswami said that police interrogation of the intruder had revealed that the man was an AIADMK sympathiser. He had told the police that he was a job-seeker and hoped to find work at Ms. Jayalalithaa’s residence. The police were making further enquiries, he said, adding that he would inform the House about any progress in investigations.

Members evicted

Earlier, even as the Assembly reconvened after a short break, AIADMK whip K.A. Sengottaiyan wanted to raise the issue of the intruder gaining access to the house. If protection could not be ensured for the Leader of the Opposition, the government should resign. He raised slogans against the government and demanded protection for his leader. He was supported by all AIADMK members. Some of them, led by D. Jayakumar and P. Sekar Babu, staged a sit-in near the Speaker’s chair and continued raising slogans.

After repeatedly requesting them to resume their seats, Speaker R. Avudaiappan ordered their eviction from the House. The watch and ward staff had a tough time removing many of the male members from the House as they squatted on the floor and refused to heed the requests of the staff. Some of the MLAs also threatened the staff with dire consequences if they were pushed.

After they were removed from the House, the AIADMK members raised slogans against the government in the lobby before heading to the party headquarters here.

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