'Police clippings came a bit late'

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JULY 9. The controversial arrest of the DMK president, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, prominently figured at a meeting the AIADMK general secretary and Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa, had with the leaders of her alliance parties here today. While Ms. Jayalalithaa sought to convince the allies about the June 30 police action, the allies are said to have explained the circumstances which prompted them to deplore the manner of the arrest.

All her allies were unanimous that the damage-control exercise began a little too late. And, that the police video tape showing the Union Minister for Commerce, Mr. Murasoli Maran, hitting police personnel should have been released without delay, on the day of the arrest itself.

The leaders of the alliance parties, particularly the CPI's Mr. R. Nallakannu, who was the first to condemn the arrest, are said to have insisted that they had reacted on the basis of the Sun TV footage showing Mr. Karunanidhi being manhandled by the police, as the official version was not available till June 30 night.

In an attempt to assuage the allies who were obviously hurt by her statement accusing them of having hastily condemned the manner of arrest, Ms. Jayalalithaa took pains to brief them on the June 29-30 happenings.

According to sources, Ms. Jayalalithaa reiterated the Government stand that Mr. Karunanidhi was ready to leave with the police personnel, who had gone to his Oliver Road residence to arrest him, until Mr. Maran and his family members entered the scene.

She is also said to have informed her allies that the release of the video tapes showing Mr.Maran hitting the police personnel had also changed the attitude of the Centre towards the AIADMK Government.

Explaining the delay in the release of video clippings taken by the police, she is said to have maintained that police evidence was generally not displayed to the public. After the one-hour meeting, the allies were particularly pleased as the communication channels had opened up again after the election.

The meeting was attended by the TMC president, Mr. Moopanar, Mr. R. Nallakannu, the CPI(M) leader, Mr. T.K. Rangarajan, the TNCC president, Mr. E.V.K.S. Elangovan, the INL State president, Mr. M. A. Latheef, the AIFB leader, Mr. L. Santhanam, the RPI leader, Mr. C.K. Tamizharasan, and the DK general secretary, Mr. K. Veeramani.

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Section  : Southern States
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