DMK-PMK differences evident in House

By Our Special Correspondent CHENNAI, APRIL 25. The pulls and pressures in the ties between the ruling DMK and the PMK became evident in the State Assembly today with the State Government finding itself assailed on the question of its attitude towards the pro-Vanniar ally.

Even as the unattached member, Mr. Dheeran, who heads a breakaway group called the TPMK, accused the State Government of turning a blind eye to the PMK activities of violence, the PMK members in the House, Mr. I. Ganesan, and Mr. G.K. Mani, blamed the Government for not providing adequate police protection to the Vanniar youth festival organised by their party in Mahapalipuram.

The Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, defended the State police against criticism from both sides saying the force would not interfere in their politics.

Mr. Dheeran, raising the issue of an attack on Vanniar Sangham leader, Mr. Viswanathan, claimed that the PMK was not allowing political rivals to function in a democratic set-up. The PMK founder, Dr. S. Ramadoss, was instigating violence by expressing readiness to meet the challenge of Dalit Panthers. The police had not taken action despite several incidents of violence indulged in by PMK partymen against political rivals, he said.

The Chief Minister, giving details of the attack on Mr. Viswanathan, said the Vanniar Sangham leader's car was waylaid near Injambakkam by a group of 25 men who had come in two vehicles. Mr. Viswanathan escaped and took refuge in a nearby residential colony. But the group set his car on fire and fled the scene.

On the basis of a police complaint filed by Mr. Viswanathan, police arrested two persons, and were searching for other persons involved in the incident, he said. There were no external injuries on the person of Mr. Viswanathan, he added.

Immediately thereafter, the PMK member, Mr. Mani, raising a special mention, claimed that adequate police force was not deployed at the meeting held by his party in Mahapalipuram. PMK partymen on their way to the meeting were attacked by a rival group, but the police had not taken any action. Indeed, the police had beaten up the complainants, he charged.

When Mr. Dheeran rose in protest against the PMK member's remarks, the Speaker, Mr. P.T.R. Palanivel Rajan, chided the two MLAs: ``This is not the forum for a debate between the two of you.''

The Chief Minister, in his reply, said apart from the Chengalpattu DIG, there were two SPs, five DSPs, 11 inspectors, 46 sub-inspectors and 620 constables including head-constables who put in charge for the meeting. Altogether more than 800 personnel were on duty for the meeting. A total of 173 police personnel were posted near the dais. The police had denied that they had refused to provide the necessary protection, he said.

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Section  : Regional
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