Date:23/09/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/09/23/stories/2003092305451201.htm

National

No case for invoking POTA against Kannappan: BJP chief

By G. Satyamurty

Tirupur Sept. 22. The BJP president, M. Venkaiah Naidu, asserted here today that the moral support extended by the Union Minister and MDMK treasurer, M. Kannappan, to the LTTE, a banned outfit, "is not a case for invoking POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act)".

At a press conference, he said the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, had written to the Central Government on the MDMK leader's support to the LTTE and that he should be dropped from the Union Council of Ministers or the State Government would have to invoke the Prevention of Terrorism Act against him.

"Whom to keep in the Ministry and not to keep in the Government is the prerogative of the Prime Minister. The State Government has no role in that," he remarked. Besides, "the BJP is of the firm view that the POTA is not meant for using against political leaders. We do not subscribe to the views of the MDMK or for that matter the perception of Mr. Kannapan regarding the LTTE. But as per information available, I don't think it is a case for invoking the POTA."

To a question he said, "our sympathy does not lie with the LTTE but only with the Sri Lankan Tamils. That was why we extended the ban on LTTE."

The party felt that the MDMK general secretary, Vaiko, was behind bars "without committing any crime". His arrest was a "misapplication" of POTA. However, there was a legal process that should be gone through for getting him released. "There can be no political decision." For this, he admitted, the system had to be expedited. "The BJP would take up with the Central Government to request the POTA Review Committee to expedite the mechanism."

Mr. Naidu disagreed with a view that the Committee had "no powers". The Centre could not be a silent spectator. If an instance of "political misuse" was brought to its notice, "something needs to be done". "But it is a fact that its (the committee's) process should be expedited."

At the same time, he added that the BJP was of the "very firm view" that POTA was needed "in the larger interests of the country".

Asked whether a Union Minister could be arrested by a State Government, his reply was "no". "This is a debatable question. However, this (arrest) will not help the federal system and not a healthy thing for federalism."

Ready to face action: Kannappan

Our Erode Staff Reporter reports:

In a brief interaction with the media at Pallipalayam, near here, Mr. Kannappan said, "we have always taken the stand that we extend only moral support to the LTTE, which is fighting for the cause of the Sri Lankan Tamils in that island. They do not function in India. The Tamil Nadu Government has been misusing the POTA and if they want to charge me under the Act, I am prepared to face it.