Date:11/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/11/stories/2007051108880600.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Karunanidhi must resign: Jayalalithaa

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: Owning moral responsibility for the violent incidents, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi must resign and the Centre dismiss the DMK Government, which failed to maintain law and order in the State, AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa demanded on Thursday.

In a statement here, she said if Mr. Karunanidhi had anticipated violence, M.K. Azhagiri and his supporters should have been arrested as a preventive measure.

When Mr. Karunanidhi was aware that violence would be let loose on Dinakaran daily why did he fail to provide security for the newspaper office and Sun TV, she asked.

Instead of arresting Mr. Azhagiri, the Chief Minister had announced a CBI enquiry into the incident, which was farcical. The CBI would also act on the lines of the Tamil Nadu police, she alleged.

Vaiko charge

Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Vaiko alleged that goondas belonging to the ruling party were behind the murderous attack on Dinakaran. Condemning the incidents, Mr. Vaiko charged that the survey was done with the connivance of the Chief Minister.

It was unfortunate that Mr. Karunanidhi failed to stop the publication of the survey when he knew about it in advance.