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Fulfil promise on POTA, Karunanidhi tells Advani

By Our Special Correspondent

Coimbatore April 27. The DMK president, M. Karunanidhi, today appealed to the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, to fulfil his promise that the Prevention of Terrorism Act would not be allowed to be misused.

"I want him to act expeditiously and earnestly (on the assurance)," he told presspersons here, responding to a query whether his allegation on Saturday regarding the Central Government forgetting its assurance was born out of "frustration" or the BJP had lost its "trustworthiness" vis-a-vis the DMK.

When it was pointed out that the BJP president, Venkiah Naidu, had categorically ruled out repeal of the POTA as demanded by the NDA allies — the DMK, the PMK and the MDMK — Mr. Karunanidhi said he (Mr. Naidu) was voicing the opinion of the BJP. But Mr. Advani had been reiterating that it would not be allowed to be misused. "This should not remain at the verbal level and should be translated into a reality."

He refused to buy Mr. Naidu's argument that the law could not be withdrawn just because it was ``misused'' in one or two States such as Tamil Nadu. "Even if it were to be only a few States, (where it is misused) why should they be allowed to suffer," Mr. Karunanidhi asked.

Asked why no other NDA leader including the Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee, Mr. Advani, and the NDA convenor, George Fernandes, was responding to the DMK's plea for repeal of the Act, "that is what worries me also," quipped Mr. Karunanidhi.

Does he expect anything worthwhile from the POTA Review Committee? "I want something worthwhile to emerge (from that)."

Is there any possibility of political realignment in Tamil Nadu because of the POTA issue?

"Whether there is any political realignment or not, I want the Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu, which are refusing to join hands for some reason or other, to forge a united front to fight the POTA. That is my earnest desire and appeal."

Will the DMK demand any emergency meeting of the NDA to discuss the POTA imbroglio? ``We will decide it at the party executive committee meeting."

No to Article 356

To a query on the demand for invoking Article 356 to dismiss the AIADMK Government, he was categorical that there was no question of his party demanding use of this provision at all.

On why the Opposition was divided in opposing the AIADMK regime, he said such a situation was unhealthy. "However, it might change."

Asked about the opinion of some MDMK leaders that they expected the DMK to lead in quitting the NDA, Mr. Karunanidhi said he was in no way responsible for "your (media's) hasty expectations."

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