Chennai, Oct 24: The arrest of MDMK leader yesterday has sparked a flow of statements from both the sides with the AIADMK leader condemning the arrest and the Chief minister M Karunanidhi justifying the arrest saying law has taken its own course.
Related Story: Vaiko Arrested
Jaya condemns arrest
Describing MDMK leader and her ally Vaiko's arrest as "politically motivated," AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa today questioned the rationale behind the arrest, when other leaders and some Tamil film directors who had made speeches supporting the LTTE, similar to that of Vaiko, were left "scot-free." In a statement here, she also questioned the locus standi of DMK Government for ordering arrest of Vaiko citing the eulogy penned by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on the death of "members of the banned organisation," in an apparent reference to S P Tamilselvan, then political advisor of the LTTE, who was killed in a Sri Lankan Air raid last year.
"By penning a poem and eulogising the dead leaders of banned organisation, Karunanidhi should be arrested under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and his government must be dismissed," she demanded the Centre.
She asked why was there no police action against some Tamil cinema directors, who had made "inflammatory remarks" at the Rameswaram protest rally.
"These persons had made anti-national and secessionist remarks (of demanding a separate Tamil Nadu) even before Vaiko and MDMK presidium chairman, M Kannappan, had spoken anything," she said.
Describing the action against Vaiko as "half-baked", she said the law of the land be applied to all and demanded action against the film directors-- Bharathiraja, Seeman and Ameer.
Recalling a Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi conference in Januray this year, Jayalalithaa said pro-LTTE remarks were openly made by party founder Thol Thirumalavan, a DMK ally and wondered why no action had been taken on him so far
Karunanidhi justifies the arrest
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi tonight said that law has its own due course in the arrest of MDMK leader Vaiko.
"The law has taken its due course", he told reporters here.
He declined to answer when asked whether there would be any more arrests, in an apparent reference to some reported pro-LTTE remarks made by Tamil cinema directors Bharathiraja, Seeman and Ameer at a protest rally at Rameswaram on Sunday.
To a question on removing the ban on LTTE, Karunanidhi said the Centre had to decide in this regard.
- Agencies
Related Story: Vaiko Arrested
Oct 24, 2008
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