Decision only after meeting Ramadoss, says Karunanidhi

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, AUG. 8. The DMK president, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, today said he would not be in a position to comment on the entry of the Pattali Makkal Katchi into the State-level NDA until the PMK founder, Dr. S. Ramadoss, met him.

``I have spoken on this earlier. Dr. Ramadoss has not met me so far. Only after he meets, can a decision on the PMK's entry into the NDA be taken,'' he said.

Asked about the BJP president, Mr. Jana Krishnamurthy's declaration that the PMK was part of the NDA at the Centre, Mr. Karunanidhi said he did not wish to comment on the statement. Asked whether this amounted to pressure tactics on the part of the BJP, he again declined to comment.

Answering another question, the DMK president said the Union Government was considering legal issues involved in taking action against police personnel who behaved in an ``uncivilised manner'' on the night of his arrest here on June 29. ``We did not ask for the transfer of the three police officials. We only sought action against those who behaved in an uncivilised manner''. When it was pointed out that no action had been taken so far, he said the August 6 rallies and August 12 meeting were meant to press this demand.

Mr.Karunanidhi refused to comment on the Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa, cancelling her New Delhi visit and said it was wrong to remark on someone's health. (She had cited health reasons for cancelling her visit).

Reacting to the observations by the TMC leader, Mr. S. Balakrishnan, on the Erwadi issue, the former Chief Minister said that party being an alliance partner, had ``enough time from May 13'' to impress upon Ms. Jayalalithaa the need for taking action against mental asylums. ``Is it our fault or Mr. Balakrishnan's that no action has been taken in the past 60 days,'' he asked.

Elaborating, Mr. Karunanidhi said the committee set up by the DMK Government tried to impress upon people the importance of seeking treatment with medical practitioners. But the people, steeped in blind faith, refused to move out of Erwadi saying the illness would be cured only if the mentally ill stayed in those surroundings.

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Section  : Southern States
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