The Hindu : Front Page : Congress stages walkout over some parties supporting LTTE

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Wednesday, Jan 30, 2008
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Congress stages walkout over some parties supporting LTTE

Special Correspondent

Call to arrest LTTE supporters
Government to consult legal experts

CHENNAI: The Congress, a close ally of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, staged a walkout from the Assembly to “convey its sentiments” on the issue of some political parties overtly supporting the banned terrorist outfit, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. They also raised slogans inside the House demanding the arrest of those openly supporting the LTTE in the State.

The issue of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) general secretary Thol. Tirumavalavan having spoken in support of the LTTE and condemning Congressmen was raised by Congress and AIADMK members during zero hour. Speaker R. Avudaiappan said that the matter was being treated as a Special Calling Attention motion and invited AIADMK whip K.A. Sengottaiyan to speak. VCK MLA D. Ravikumar, who intervened, said that newspapers had misreported his leader’s speech.

Mr. Sengottaiyan highlighted the tough manner in which AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa handled terrorists and said that the DMK Government was showing an alarming laxity on the issue. He accused it of letting LTTE men go scot-free — a charge that was strongly rebutted by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.

The Chief Minister pointed out that the Government had no say in court rulings and was bound by them. On its part, the Government had not filed any statement anywhere in support of the banned organisation.

Later, called by the Speaker to speak out, K. Jayakumar (Congress) said that no one should support a banned organisation. “It was not the Congress that banned the LTTE; it is the Indian Government,” he said.

In his reply, Mr. Karunanidhi said the Supreme Court had observed that a person could not be arrested merely because he spoke in support of a banned organisation.

The demand that a person be arrested merely for having spoken for an organisation was fraught with legal problems, which many members were aware of. But this did not mean that he was saying the Government would not take action. After considering all aspects of the case and after consultation with legal experts, the Government was even open to the idea of bringing in legislation on this issue. He appealed to the members to express their views on the need for legislation.

Mr. Karunanidhi pointed out that both the Congress and the VCK, which is said to have supported the organisation in a recent speech, were allies of the DMK.

It was also the duty of the allies to ensure that the Government was not brought to disrepute, he said.

AIADMK members also staged a walkout after the Congress members left the House, protesting against the Speaker’s refusal to allow them to express their opinion on the LTTE issue.

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