The Hindu : DMK always against Art. 356: Karunanidhi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 18, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

DMK always against Art. 356: Karunanidhi

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI APRIL 17. The DMK has not demanded that Article 356 of the Constitution (President's rule) be invoked in Tamil Nadu, the president, M. Karunanidhi, asserted here today.

"Why are they fighting shadows?" was his curt response, when presspersons pointed out that the CPI leader, D. Raja, opposed application of the Article. "We did not ask for Article 356. What the PMK leader, S. Ramadoss, expressed was his anguish at reports of deteriorating (law and order) situation in the State. However, this was construed as a demand by the media", Mr. Karunanidhi said.

Moreover, even on the day Dr. Ramadoss made his point, he (Mr. Karunanidhi) told the media that if the PMK chief placed the matter before the April 24 all-party meeting, it would be considered.

When he was told that the State BJP too expressed itself against the use of Article 356, Mr. Karunanidhi replied: "I consider the Tamil Nadu BJP an ally of Jayalalithaa's party".

Maintaining that his party always stood for scrapping of the Article, the DMK leader said he had conveyed his surprise to the former West Bengal Chief Minister, Jyoti Basu, who once said it should be retained.

However, he would not want the Centre to remain silent when the Union Minister, T.R.Baalu, was not allowed to see the DMK youth wing chief, M.K.Stalin, in the Cuddalore prison, after having been assured permission. Also, there was a provision for giving special permission to the Union Ministers to call on anyone lodged in prison.

Mr. Karuananidhi said he now wanted to visit the MDMK leader, Vaiko, lodged in the Vellore prison. There were rules to the effect that if he was accompanied by the Union Minister, permission could be given. Even after the Centre raised the matter with the State Government, the nod was still not given. "This is the respect the State Government is attaching to the Centre".

On the issue of repeal of Prevention of Terrorism Act, Mr. Karunanidhi said the slapping of the legislation on the Tamil journal editor, R. R. Gopal, reinforced the demand for repealing the law and signalled the continuation of the State Government's "vindictive approach".

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