AIADMK continues damage control exercise

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JULY 3. The AIADMK continued its mission to counter the criticism against the Jayalalithaa Government over the arrest of the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, and related events even as it got assurances from the Congress and the Left parties that they would oppose attempts to impose Central rule in the State.

The party delegation led by two State Ministers, Mr. C. Ponnaiyan and Mr. Thambi Durai, and MPs today called on leaders of the CPI, the CPI(M), the Congress and the Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, to present its version of the events that followed the arrest of Mr. Karunanidhi.

Armed with a memorandum and a videotape of the event shot by the Tamil Nadu police, the delegation also held a special screening for the media where the State Law Minister, Mr. Ponnaiyan, said the State Government had decided to drop charges against the two Union Ministers, Mr. Murasoli Maran and Mr. T.R. Baalu, ``considering the need to maintain the cordial relations'' with the Centre.

While reiterating that the two Union Ministers had prevented the police from discharging its duty, Mr. Ponnaiyan told the media here that during their meeting with Mr. Jaitley on Monday, the delegation had sought to impress that withdrawing the cases against the Central Ministers would set a `bad precedent' and ``affect the morale of the police''.

Earlier, the CPI general secretary, Mr. A.B. Bardhan, and its national secretary, Mr. D. Raja, while expressing opposition to Centre's move to bring Tamil Nadu under Central rule also criticised the statement of the NDA convener, Mr. George Fernandes. The CPI also sought to know what official work the two Union Ministers had in Chennai.

The CPI(M) echoed a similar view on any attempt to impose President's rule in the State by dismissing an elected government.

The party reiterated that it had objected to the manner in which the arrests were effected. The delegation met politburo member, Mr. Sitaram Yechury.

The delegation also called on the AICC general secretary, Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad and the Congress spokesman, Mr. S. Jaipal Reddy, who ridiculed the suggestion of the NDA team to bring the State under Central rule.

Meanwhile, a delegation of DMK led by the Minister of State for Health, Mr. A. Raja, and Mr. P.N. Siva, today called on Mr. Advani, to present their case.

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