Rights violation charge a 'bogey'

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, AUG. 20. After the DMK walked out of the Assembly, the ruling AIADMK and its allies today launched a no-holds-barred offensive against the Opposition on the controversial issue of the arrest of former Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, on June 30.

Leading the anti-DMK tirade, the AIADMK MLA, Mr. P. R. Sundaram, in his 20-minute speech punctuated with a mention of ``Puratchithalaivi Amma'' at least 50 times, said the DMK was raising the bogey of ``human rights violation'' during the arrest only to wriggle out of corruption cases.

Participating in the debate on the budget, Mr. Sundaram asserted that the police had not committed any excess during the arrest, and that Mr.Karunanidhi had enacted a drama to divert the attention of the people from the corruption cases.

Calling for an intensive probe into the mass suicide of the Chennai Mayor, Mr. M. K. Stalin's friend, Mr. Ramesh and his family, Mr. Sundaram said when the mystery was solved, the DMK would stand exposed.

``Our Puratchi Thalaivi has directed us to uphold dignity in the House. If only our Puratchithalaivi Amma gave us a free hand, we will quit the Assembly and take on the DMK'', he said, referring to the DMK member, Mr. Parithi Ilamvazhuthi's ``obscene remark'' against the Speaker.

The senior TMC MLA, Mr. S. Balakrishnan, recalled that the Karunanidhi regime in 1970s had ordered the midnight arrest of Kamaraj's protege, Mr. Danushkodi Nadar, for his write-up against the then Government. ``Those who sow evil will reap evil'', he remarked.

All praise for the Jayalalitha regime, Mr. Nanmaran of the CPI(M), said the DMK members staged a walk-out during the budget presentation only for cheap publicity. The Centre had done injustice to minorities by recalling the Governor, Ms. Fathima Beevi, who had appointed Ms. Jayalalithaa Chief Minister, respecting the people's mandate, he charged.

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Section  : Southern States
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