We have to study report: DGP

By Our Tamil Nadu Bureau

CHENNAI, JUNE 5. In the absence of a ``deadline'' for responding to the Centre's ``warning'' issued to the Tamil Nadu Government on last week's unseemly developments, there seems to be no great hurry in replying to what the State considers a ``serious challenge'' to its powers and rights.

Already forced on the back foot, after the sudden crisis and the threat of invoking of Article 355 or 356 of the Constitution, the State Government is likely to ``closely scrutinise'' the communication before sending a formal reply.

Talking to reporters at the airport after a farewell to the former Governor, Ms. Fathima Beevi, the Director-General of Police, Mr. A. Ravindranath, said, ``we will stand by the police officers. Definitely.''

Asked whether some of the police officers named in the arrest of Mr. M. Karunanidhi and the two Union Ministers would be transferred, the DGP only said, ``it is too early to comment now. We have to study the report. I have to examine the report very carefully. Only then can I comment on that.''

To a question, Mr. Ravindranath insisted he had ``no personal grudge against the former Chief Minister'' and would only do a ``professional job''.

The Chief Secretary, Mr. P. Shankar, who was also at the airport, was even more circumspect. Answering a volley of questions from reporters, he said, ``there is no time limit to comply with the Centre's order.'' Asked whether the Government would initiate action against the police personnel involved, he said he could comment only ``after examining the report''.

Though the Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa, was also there to see off the former Governor, she did not want to talk to the media. When reporters met her at the Secretariat later, she made it clear, ``I have nothing to say.''

But the police officers who were first named by the Union Commerce Minister, Mr. Murasoli Maran, and by the DMK chief, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, yesterday, seem agitated about the developments. A few senior city police officers have issued ``rebuttals'' to their alleged involvement in the Oliver Road arrest or the ``roughing'' up of the Union Ministers. They include the Joint Commissioner (Central), Mr. S. George; the Deputy Commissioner (Guindy), Mr. K. R. Shanmuga Rajeswaran; and the Principal, Police Training College, Mr. M. C. Sarangan.

The difficult part of the Central missive relates to the ``action to be taken against police officers who were responsible for committing high-handedness and human rights violations against various citizens in the State in general and the two Central Ministers in particular.''

What is more, the Centre's warning carried a specific rider: ``The Government of India will keep a close watch over the manner in which the affairs of the State Government of Tamil Nadu are carried out in the near future.''

Obviously, the Centre will insist on some kind of compliance with its order, addressing all the ``concerns'' it has raised. This will specifically include action against some police officers. The question is what happens if the State Government decides not to initiate any action against them?

Asked this question, Mr. Karunanidhi said, ``the Centre has warned them. If they violate the order, it amounts to ignoring the Centre and the voice of all those who fight for basic human rights.'' But what would he do in that case? ``Let us wait and see. Let there be a violation of the order.''

As of now, the State Government is determined to ``protect'' its police officers. It could buy some time to ``contemplate'' action. But it cannot afford to test the patience of the Centre for too long. One solution that has been suggested is to order a thorough probe into the incidents of June 29-30 and put off all action till a report is submitted on it.

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