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`No ill-treatment in prison'

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI July 15. The jailed MDMK leader, Vaiko was not being ill-treated in the Vellore prison, and he himself rejected a pedestal fan and stainless steel vessels offered by prison authorities, the PWD Minister and former Chief Minister, O. Paneerselvam, said today.

Reacting to reports in a section of the media that Mr. Vaiko was not provided with adequate amenities in his cell, Mr. Paneerselvam, in a statement here, said the Government could not be blamed if the MDMK leader turned down the facilities provided to him.

Fan offer rejected

Following media reports that Mr. Vaiko had not been provided with a fan, the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, ordered that a pedestal fan be provided.

However, when the prison authorities offered it this morning, he turned it down the facility, saying he would not use the fan unless all prison inmates were given a similar treatment.

But, the jail manual does not provide for installing fan in the cells.Mr. Vaiko had also refused to use stainless steel vessels on the ground that a similar facility was not made available to other prisoners.

``So, there is no basis for accusing the Government of being vindictive towards Mr. Vaiko.''

The treatment given to Mr. Vaiko was in keeping with the jail manual, Mr. Paneerselvam maintained.

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