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CPI (M) won't oppose Central steps against `authoritarianism'

By Our Special Correspondent

MADURAI NOV.12. The CPI (M) will not oppose Central intervention in defence of democracy and against "authoritarianism" of the State Government.

Mr. Varadarajan, State CPI(M) committee secretary, who took part in a human chain campaign launched by the Opposition parties here this evening, said it was the avowed party stand that the Centre should not interfere with the State's affairs in view of the fact that 80 State Governments had been sacked during the last 56 years. The party also favoured safeguarding State's rights.

However, in the prevailing situation, the party favoured retention of Article 356 in the Constitution but with adequate safeguards, such as invoking the provision with a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

Asked about the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa's opposition to deployment of the CISF at The Hindu office in Chennai, he said the CPI (M) would not oppose certain steps taken by the Centre against the "authoritarian methods" adopted by the AIADMK Government. "It has violated all canons of democracy, undermined the Constitution and trampled on freedom of the Press," triggering nationwide protests. The people, who had risen against the "repressive rule", also had the right to pave way for its exit.

Replying to a query, Mr. Varadarajan said the human chain was a link in the continuing struggle against the Government's political and economic policies. The party favoured strengthening Opposition unity for defending democracy, even while opposing the "anti-people" policies of the National Democratic Alliance Government led by the BJP at the Centre.

Law and order `deteriorates'

Our Ramanathapuram Staff Reporter reports:

That law and order in Tamil Nadu has deteriorated is evident from the police entering the office of The Hindu in Chennai without any search order or warrant to arrest the journalists and intercepting a car by which N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief, was travelling in Bangalore, the TNCC president, S.Balakrishnan, said today.

Speaking to presspersons after participating in a human chain agitation at Ramanathapuram, he said if the Centre invoked Article 356 to dismiss the Government for its "anti-democratic and anti-people policies", the Tamil Nadu Congress would mount pressure on the party president, Sonia Gandhi, to support the move.

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