Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Ministerial impropriety

Sir, — Reference to Editorial " Ministerial impropriety" (Aug. 5): The basic fact that the LTTE is a banned organisation overrides other issues brought into focus by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa's anti-LTTE drive. But for the United States, Britain and the rest of the world declaring a war against all forms of terrorism, it is doubtful whether the LTTE would have shown any inclination for "peace talks".

The LTTE systematically eliminated other Tamil outfits such as the TULF, the TELO and the ELO and their leaders who believed in peace. Sri Lankan Tamils continue to throng Indian shores in miserable condition from areas under LTTE rule. They do not know the fate of their teenage wards conscripted by the LTTE and do not want to return to Sri Lanka at any cost. What has the LTTE achieved to deserve the ``moral support'' of our leaders who seem unable to distinguish chalk from cheese?

C. Ranganathan,

Tiruchi, T.N.

Sir, — The Tamil Nadu Government deserves a pat for its anti-LTTE drive. While its bold initiative and business-like manner in dealing with POTA offences have been hailed by all sensible citizens, certain vested interests, including some political parties and a few Central Ministers, have denounced the Government, accusing it of misusing POTA to settle political scores.

The time has come to nip these destructive and fissiparous tendencies in the bud and save the country from disintegration.

A.N.B. Pillai,

Chennai

Sir, — Support to the LTTE and "Eelam" Tamils in Tamil Nadu, due to affinity and common culture, does not mean that the outfit is being encouraged to commit nefarious activities.

The POTA was enacted to curtail terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir and the north-east.

An assurance was given in Parliament that the Act would not be used against the Opposition parties. It is common knowledge that almost all the Dravidian parties support "Eelam" and the Sri Lankan Tamil outfits.

The Tamil Nadu Government must first prepare proper grounds for banning such parties before embarking upon the arrest of leaders invoking POTA saying that their speeches ``caused disturbance to public tranquillity and peace". No such thing happened.

V.S. Sankaran,

Madurai, T.N.

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