The Hindu : NDA allies in a fix, says Chidambaram

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 20, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

NDA allies in a fix, says Chidambaram

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUVALLUR APRIL 19 . The Congress Jananayaga Peravai general secretary, P. Chidambaram, today appealed to the PMK founder-leader, S. Ramadoss, and the MDMK general secretary, Vaiko, to come out of the National Democratic Alliance on the POTA issue.

Addressing a press conference, after the second State executive committee meeting of the party here, Mr. Chidambaram said the DMK, the PMK and the MDMK were in a fix in the NDA Government, and could not do anything. The three parties, which had supported the Prevention of Terrorism Act, were now making a hue and cry.

However, ``I do not have the age to advise the DMK president, M. Karunanidhi, a veteran politician, to come out of the NDA. Let him do whatever he wants. But I appeal to Mr. Vaiko and Dr. Ramadoss to snap their ties with the NDA.''

Answering a question, Mr. Chidambaram said it would not be easy to invoke Article 356 (President's rule) of the Constitution against the AIADMK Government, as had been demanded by Opposition parties, and the present atmosphere was also not conducive to do so. First of all, Parliament must endorse the move, for which the support of both the BJP and the Congress was required. Besides, the Supreme Court issued restrictions on use of Article 356 and it would be difficult to cross these hurdles. ``We have no alternative to bearing the brunt of the AIADMK Government for three more years.''

Asked about invoking the POTA against R.R. Gopal, editor, Nakkheeran, Mr. Chidambaram said that he went through the charges slapped on the journalist and, he as a lawyer, could say they were false and frivolous.

Earlier, the meeting resolved that the CJP continue its efforts at forming a third front to fight the 2006 Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu.

The party condemned the Tamil Nadu Government's ``anti-democratic'' ways, ``foisting of cases'' on Opposition leaders, senior politicians, MLAs and journalists, and arresting and threatening them.

The meeting urged the Centre to withdraw the POTA, which was being ``misused'' in Tamil Nadu against politicians and journalists. Another resolution condemned withdrawal of free power supply to farmers, and wanted the State Government to give up the Veeranam water supply scheme. The Government should also give up its decision to demolish the Queen Mary's College in Chennai.

The meeting urged the Government to form high-level committees to supervise drought relief works in districts, and to restore all benefits to government employees.

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