The Hindu : Front Page : Attempt to portray PMK as a violent party, alleges Ramadoss

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Saturday, Jun 14, 2008
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Attempt to portray PMK as a violent party, alleges Ramadoss

Special Correspondent

“False cases are sought to be filed against party members”

CHENNAI: Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S. Ramadoss on Friday said that Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s speech [at a wedding in Chennai earlier in the day] has betrayed the perception that those who cannot respond politically to political issues and arguments made by the PMK on people’s forums wanted to portray the party as one that stands for violence.

Claiming that false cases were sought to be filed against his party members, Dr. Ramadoss condemned the attempt to attack the PMK with the “old rusted weapon” of picturising his party as a violent party.

“I have, all along, been emphasising that violence in politics and violent speeches should be avoided. I have condemned them. At the same time, those in power should not indulge in acts of victimisation. Such actions never succeed in politics.”

Referring to the Chief Minister’s reference to the speech of Vanniya Sangam president J. Guru, the PMK founder said that it was being projected as if the speech was made recently.

The meeting took place in January and the occasion was the general council of the Perambalur district unit of the PMK. Prior to the district general council meeting, a youth rally was held at Ariyalur in September last. A case of extortion was filed against some front-ranking leaders of the party a few months later. On the day of Pongal, the PMK members were arrested.

“This act of vendetta” had created a feeling of unrest among the party members of the Ariyalur and Perambalur areas, he said. In many places, PMK volunteers were attacked by the ruling party. “Members of the DMK had burnt my effigies in several places,” Dr. Ramadoss said. It was under these circumstances that the general council of the Perambalur district unit took place in January.

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