DMK plotting violence: Jayalalitha

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, APRIL 22. The AIADMK general secretary, Ms. Jayalalitha, today charged the DMK with hatching a conspiracy to let loose violence on April 24 in the event of her nomination being rejected by the returning officers in Andipatti and Krishnagiri.

In a statement, she said the DMK plan was to pin the blame on the AIADMK for the violence so as to cause disrepute to the party on the eve of the Assembly election.

The DMK functionaries were intending to burn buses and buildings and murder people and frame AIADMK men. The conspiracy, she added, was hatched in a city hotel. She had received the information from top police officers.

Already, the Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, was talking of her nomination being rejected even before the date of scrutiny. At a time when there was uncertainty about rejection or acceptance of the nomination, Mr. Karunanidhi was trying to defame her and the AIADMK, she said. Appealing to partymen to guard themselves against falling prey to the ``conspiracies'' of the DMK to instigate violence after the date of scrutiny, she said it was clear that the people were on the side of the AIADMK. Mr. Karunanidhi, knowing full well that the DMK could not win the mandate of the people, was attempting ``short-cuts'' to come to power, she said.

``Whatever happens, AIADMK partymen should remain calm,'' she added.

Falsehood, says Veerasami

Meanwhile, the Health Minister and DMK treasurer, Mr. Arcot N. Veerasami, said Ms. Jayalalitha had released her statement to sow the seeds of violence and subvert the electoral process. Mr. Veerasami, in a letter to the DGP, Mr. R. Rajagopalan, asked him, on behalf of the DMK, to ensure law and order in the State. ``All steps should be taken to guard against inconvenience to the public'', he said.

Recalling the Dharmapuri bus-burning incident on February 2, 2000, allegedly by AIADMK men after the conviction of Ms. Jayalalitha in a corruption case, he said similar violence was being planned by the AIADMK now in the event of her nominations being rejected.

The charge made by Ms. Jayalalitha against the DMK was ``utter falsehood'', he said. Actually, Ms. Jayalalitha, through her statement had indirectly instigated AIADMK men to indulge in violence if her nominations were rejected, he claimed.

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