Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

Cases foisted for protesting excesses: Nedumaran

By Our Special Correspondent

Chennai Sept.7. The Tamil Nationalist Movement never indulged in violence; nor did it believe in violence, said the TNM leader, P. Nedumaran, who has been arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

In his petition before the special court for POTA cases at Poonamallee on August 29, when he was produced there for remand extension, Mr. Nedumaran recalled that he had launched agitations against "police excesses". It was for this reason the police were foisting cases against him and his party. He and his party were "serving Tamils" within the legal framework and democratically. He denied the charges against him.

The TNM leader explained, "everyone has a right to protest a ban on an organisation, which did not operate in the country". When the RSS was banned, several leaders including A.B.Vajpayee, organised protest meetings. But the same "democratic right is being denied to us". The Union Government was still holding talks with representatives of the banned organisations in Nagaland, Mizoram and Tripura, he pointed out.

Mr. Nedumaran said a new Constitution, in which the States would have the right to self-determination, was required. The Centre should have within its jurisdiction only external affairs, defence, transport and printing of currency.

The other subjects should be vested with State Governments.

This would pave the way for the people to live in true harmony. Several other leaders also putforth the same view earlier, he said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Suspense over water release ends
• No serious crisis: TNEB
• Two students whiplashed by Salem college staff
• T.N. CM may not attend CRA meet
• Fishermen asked not to entertain `kattapanchayats'
• Cases foisted for protesting excesses: Nedumaran
• `Grey market thrives, thanks to ST on cellphone'
• TTPS unit resumes operations
• DMK won't appeal against unseating of Stalin
• `Army has no role in nabbing Veerappan'

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu