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Law minister repeats demand for dismissing Karunanidhi

Union Law and Company Affairs Minister M Thambidurai today reiterated the All India Anna DMK's demand for the dismissal of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government in Tamil Nadu, alleging that the law and order situation in the state was worsening day by day.

Addressing a press conference in Karur in Tamil Nadu, he said the DMK government had no moral right to continue in office, as it had also failed to check the prices of essential commodities.

He alleged that the ruling DMK was compelling the police to fabricate false cases against AIADMK workers.

The DMK ministers were camping in their respective constituencies and harassing AIADMK workers, he charged.

Thambidurai alleged that DMK workers had damaged a life-size statue of AIADMK founder leader M G Ramachandran at Panamarathupatti in Salem district. Though a complaint had been lodged with the police, no action was taken so far, he said, and added that there was no security for the AIADMK and other Opposition party members.

On the reported remark of Pattali Makkal Katchi president Dr Ramadoss that his party was not in favour of invoking Article 356 of the Constitution in Tamil Nadu, Thambidurai said it might be the personal view of Dr Ramadoss.

In an indirect reference to Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy, another constituent of the BJP-AIADMK combine, he said the AIADMK was firm in its demand for the dismissal of the Karunanidhi government, and Dr Swamy should co-operate with the AIADMK and other like-minded parties in this issue.

On Dr Swamy's move to form a secular front, Thambidurai said the AIADMK-led front in the state itself was a secular front. "Where is the question of forming one more secular front? I think Dr Swamy is still in the AIADMK-BJP combine", he added.

He also denied allegations that AIADMK supremo J Jayalalitha was trying to topple the BJP government at the Centre by making unreasonable demands.

Thambidurai added that his party was still awaiting a reply from Prime Minister A B Vajpayee to the demand for the removal of Union ministers Ramakrishna Hegde and Ram Jethmalani from the Cabinet.

Asked if the issue would be raised at the May 9 coordination committee meeting at New Delhi, Thambidurai said it would be decided by his party's high command.

On the filing of a public interest litigation in the Madras high court challenging the appointment of 33 standing counsels for various departments of the Union government, he said such appointments were a routine matter.

UNI

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