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Remand extended for Vaiko

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI Oct. 9 . A special court today extended till October 28 the remand for the MDMK general secretary, Vaiko, held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

``I have been falsely implicated in the case out of political vendetta. Ultimately, the truth will prevail,'' Mr. Vaiko said as he emerged from the court here.

Mr. Vaiko was earlier produced before the judge of the Sessions Court For Exclusive Trail of Bomb Blast Cases, L. Rajendran, on the expiry of a five-day remand extension given on October 4. He has so far spent 90 days in prison, ever since he was arrested under the POTA for a pro-LTTE speech he made at Tirumangalam, near Madurai.

The Special Public Prosecutor, S. Jayakumar, sought a 50-day extension of the remand as the investigation was yet to be completed. G. Devadoss, defence counsel, argued that the `lethargic' prosecution was taking its own time to complete the investigation. Extension of remand was ``neither a formality nor automatic''. Also, the public prosecutor's report had not been made available to him, as mandated.

The SPP, who took exception to the use of the word `lethargic', charged defence with `tampering' with probe proceedings. To this, producing a report on `Q' branch investigations, which appeared in these columns, defence contended that it was the prosecution, which was meddling and using the press.

The judge asked the SPP whether all exercises being undertaken now would form part of evidence, and reminded him that though the prosecution could take time to complete the investigations, there was a ``ceiling'' on how long the defendant could be held.

Support for general strike

Later, talking to presspersons, Mr. Vaiko said his party was in support of the general strike called today on the Cauvery issue. It was the responsibility of the Centre to intervene and fulfil the just hopes and aspirations of Tamil Nadu. The strike was to fight for the rights of Tamil Nadu. ``We are not begging, only asking for what is rightfully ours.''

On the ordinance banning forcible conversions, he said the majority community should come forward to fight this measure.

This was against the principles of democracy and secularism, on which the country was founded. ``Protection of minorities is the essence of democracy'' and this ordinance went against that spirit.

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Stories in this Section

• Rajnikant plans fast in Chennai
• Minority leaders plan stir against ordinance
• Passengers caught unawares
• Prisoners observe fast
• Remand extended for Vaiko
• Rain as low pressure troughs merge
• I'll reply to detractors during poll: Rajnikant
• Striking teachers will lose pay, warns Govt.
• Parties jump on Rajnikant bandwagon
• Neyveli show will go on

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