Karunanidhi freed, case to stay

By M.R. Venkatesh

CHENNAI, JULY 4. The dramatic release of the DMK president and former Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, from the Central prison here this evening, mitigated the serious political crisis that engulfed the AIADMK Government since his arrest in the wee hours of Saturday, even as a frail and shattered DMK leader saw it as a victory for ``Tamil brethren all over the world''.

With the Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa, ordering his release on ``purely humanitarian grounds,'' the five-day-old arrest drama ended in a tumultuous welcome by DMK cadres and well-wishers, in the backdrop of Mr. Karunanidhi's health deteriorating. The Centre's warning to the State Government yesterday had a salutary effect.

A Government press release said, ``taking into consideration the advanced age of Mr. Karunanidhi, the Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa, has ordered the release of Mr. Karunanidhi on purely humanitarian grounds. However, the case against him will continue.''

Still suffering from shoulder and general body pain, Mr. Karunanidhi at a press conference later at ``Anna Arivalayam,'' the party headquarters, broke down, showing to mediapersons his inability to lift both hands beyond a point. He later underwent a medical check-up.

Mr. Karunanidhi said the political crisis in the State was so grave it drew international attention. He said he was overwhelmed by and grateful to the unanimous response of the political leaders across the spectrum, beginning with the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, and the Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, the NDA Convener, Mr. George Fernandes, the allies of the AIADMK, the media and Tamils abroad, including in Sri Lanka.

Asserting that it was not just a problem concerning a few individuals, he said the human rights issue involved in this ``arbitrary and uncivil'' police action involved the citizens of the entire country. The DMK would take stock of the developments, he added.

Extraordinary situation

On his party diluting its stand in urging the Centre to invoke Article 356 of the Constitution against the AIADMK Government, Mr. Karunanidhi adverted to the extraordinary situation in the State, as continuance of such events would mean the ``country is witnessing yet another Emergency''.

Though Mr. Karunanidhi and the Union Industries Minister, Mr. Murasoli Maran, did not say whether the DMK was for dismissing the AIADMK Government, in this instance invoking Article 356, they indicated that further action by the Centre vis-a-vis Tamil Nadu would depend on the subsequent developments.

Rebuking the Congress for having ``the sole prerogative'' to invoke Article 356 whenever it was in power, Mr. Karunanidhi said that party had never supported any move by the DMK in the past when ``we opposed Article 356''in Parliament. ``Even now, we are ready for a debate on scrapping this Article but is the Congress ready for it?''

At another level, he said, ``as long as Article 356 is there, it will be used.'' But whether the present circumstances warranted its use was something the media should analyse and state whether ``there is ground for it or not''.

On whether he was ``satisfied'' with the Centre warning Tamil Nadu to rectify all the violations of law and constitutional provisions, Mr. Karunanidhi said when Mr. Vajpayee had enquired about his health this evening, he had expressed satisfaction over the Centre's action.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Maran set the stage for Mr. Karunanidhi's release, issuing a strong statement outside the prison. This was subsequent to the withdrawal of cases against him and his Cabinet colleague, Mr. T.R. Baalu.

Health `very bad'

Mr. Karunanidhi's health condition - including the swelling in his legs - was ``very bad'' and ``we wonder whether he will come out alive,'' Mr. Maran said adding, the Jayalalithaa Government would be responsible if anything happened to him. The DMK leader's personal physician, Dr. Gopal, said Mr. Karunanidhi required hospitalisation due to his high blood pressure.

The Principal Sessions Judge who freed Mr. Karunanidhi on the investigating officer's petition citing his health condition, directed the former Chief Minister to appear before the court ``on receipt of summons, if necessary''.

Preparing the ground for the release, leaders of the AIADMK's allies - TMC, CPI, CPI(M), DK - appealed to the State Government to free Mr. Karunanidhi.

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