The Hindu : MDMK will oppose linking POTA to ban on LTTE

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 17, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

MDMK will oppose linking POTA to ban on LTTE

By Our Staff Reporter

VELLORE July 16 . The MDMK will oppose any move to link the Prevention of Terrorism Act to the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, said the presidium chairman, L. Ganesan, after meeting the general secretary, Vaiko, in the central prison here today.

Mr. Ganesan told newspersons that the MDMK was opposed only to the misuse of the POTA, which was enacted mainly to put down terrorists and extremists who infiltrated the country and indulged in acts aimed at destabilising India.

``It was not introduced keeping the LTTE in mind.'' The LTTE stood banned even before the POTA was introduced. There was absolutely no connection between the POTA and the ban on LTTE. Moreover, ``a ban is not permanent, as could be seen from the fact that the RSS and the undivided communist party, which were once banned, are permitted to carry on their activities now.''

Organisations once banned were ruling parties today, he said.

``It is upto the NDA Government to decide,'' said Mr. Ganesan when he was asked about the MDMK stand on the need for amendments to the POTA in the light of the arrest of Mr. Vaiko.

When, at the time of introduction of the POTA, the main Opposition parties said it would be misused by the Government to take vindictive action against political opponents, the NDA Government assured them that there would be no vindictive action. ``But now it is the Jayalalitha Government which has invoked the POTA against Mr. Vaiko.''

``We do not expect them to do it as we do not want to cause any embarrassment to the Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee,'' said Mr. Ganesan to a question whether the MDMK wanted the NDA Government to intervene for securing the release of Mr. Vaiko.

Asked whether the MDMK Ministers at the Centre would resign in protest against the arrest, Mr. Ganesan said the party did not have any quarrel with the NDA Government.

On the announcement by the Chief Minister that the State Government would take steps to ban the MDMK in the light of the resolution (which, according to her, was passed at the party executive meeting) that ``the very purpose of the existence of the party, the very purpose of its participation in the Central Government is only to support Tamils in Eelam'', Mr. Ganesan said that given the powers, Ms. Jayalalithaa would want to ban all parties except the AIADMK.

`Strategy against authoritarian regime'

Mr. Ganesan said that during his meeting with Mr. Vaiko, he discussed the party's strategy to oppose the ``authoritarian and repressive rule of Ms. Jayalalithaa''. It included holding meetings and fast and other ways of mobilising public support. The presidium chairman said Mr. Vaiko had requested the party workers not to commit self-immolation.

The headquarters executives would shortly visit various jails and meet workers arrested under the POTA and in connection with the arrest of Mr. Vaiko.

`We'll break the ban'

The MDMK headquarters secretary, Gurunathan, and spokesman, Nanmaran, who also met Mr. Vaiko today, said quoting him, that the party would face the arrest issue both legally and politically.

But the strategy could not be divulged at this stage. ``Let them ban the party. We will smash the ban and history will release us'' was what Mr.Vaiko wanted to convey to newspersons about Ms. Jayalalithaa's announcement of the Government intention to ban the MDMK, Mr. Nanmaran said.

With Saturday and Sunday being `no visitor days' in the jail and as Mr.Vaiko was taken to Chennai to vote in the Presidential election on Monday, today was practically the first day for visitors to meet him after he had been lodged in the central prison here last Friday.

There was a steady stream of visitors, both partymen and relatives. The first to call on him was his wife, Renuka Devi, sister, Rajalakshmi and son, Durai Vyapuri. Followed by Mr. Ganesan among others.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

`Education for every child by 2010'

MDMK will oppose linking POTA to ban on LTTE

Bandobust scheme for CM's Ramnad visit

`Q' Branch may arrest a few more

Transport workers plan Statewide stir

Constabulary may graduate to better policing

Govt. denies food denial charge

Liquor vending provision repeal stayed

Station masters defer stir