Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

Tirumavalavan demands CBI probe into allotments

By Our Staff Reporter

CUDDALORE AUG. 6. The Dalit Panthers of India general secretary, R. Tirumavalavan, today demanded a CBI probe into the petrol pumps scandal as it would unearth all "irregularities'' in the allotment of petrol pumps, gas and kerosene agencies made since January 2000.

He told presspersons here that the Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee, had cancelled the allotments only under pressure from the Opposition parties. But this was not enough. Only a probe by the CBI could bring out the role of persons involved in the scam.

The constituents of the anti-Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) movement were planning to meet national leaders to explore the possibility of building a campaign against the Act. After due consultations, the movement might move the court to make the Centre withdraw the Act, he said. The DMK, the MDMK and the PMK, the constituents of the NDA Government, should demand the withdrawal of POTA. Merely suggesting amendments to the Act would not suffice. The MDMK and the PMK resorted to "double speak'' on the issue as they had supported the Act in Parliament and were now opposing the arrest of the MDMK general secretary, Vaiko, under the same Act, he said.

All those in the public life were dismayed at the arrest of Vaiko and the Tamil Nationalist Movement leader, P.Nedumaran, he said.

The Government had invoked the Act only to "sidetrack vital issues'' confronting the State.

The DPI would organise a rally in Tiruchi on August 12 to oppose the `atrocities' unleashed against Dalits in Thinniam village, he said. The party would continue to support the advocates' agitation against the CPC amendment, he added.

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