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High time Centre intervened: Cong.

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI APRIL 12. The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee working president, E.V.K.S. Elangovan, today demanded the dismissal of the AIADMK Government for its "undemocratic functioning" and "failure to maintain law and order".

The Jayalalithaa Government had "failed on all fronts" and it was high time the Centre intervened, imposing President's rule. The DMK, the PMK and the MDMK, allies of the National Democratic Alliance Government, should insist on early Central action against the AIADMK regime, which had "violated all canons of democracy", Mr. Elangovan told newsmen here.

He wanted all Opposition leaders to take concerted efforts to put an end to the `despotic' rule. There was no democracy in the State as the Chief Minister was trying to gag all those who criticised her Government. Opposition leaders were not allowed to express their views either in the Assembly or outside. Under cover of Rule 110, the Chief Minister was denying the Opposition a debate in the Assembly on issues of public importance. They were being removed on the slightest pretext. Criticising the arrest of Gopal, editor, Nakkheeran, Tamil biweekly, late last night, he said right from the DMK leader, M. Karunanidhi, to the journalist, the Government was arresting people at odd hours, in violation of a court order.

Taking exception to the Speaker's directive to newsmen that they should not talk to Opposition MLAs in Assembly corridors, Mr. Elangovan said such restriction was unheard of in the history of Tamil Nadu and described it as nothing but an act of muzzling the press.

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