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N Sathiya Moorthy in Chennai
After over 100 days in prison, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam General Secretary Vaiko has given consent for the party to consider moving the Supreme Court against his detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
"We are considering the option, but Vaiko will not be applying for bail," MDMK chairman L Ganesan told reporters after meeting Vaiko in prison.
Ganesan clarified that the party was considering the Supreme Court option as the Court is already seized of the petitions from other POTA detenus, including banned Tamil Nationalist Movement leader P Nedumaran.
"If we do not move the Court, then whatever observations that the Court may make in relation to the case of others will then be applicable to Vaiko. The trial court would be duty-bound to apply the same rule to Vaiko and the facts of his case may get over-looked," Ganesan explained.
Ganesan and MDMK's two Union ministers, Ginjee N Ramachandran and M Kannappan, were not forthcoming when asked if the party was contemplating a merger with the parent Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
They also asserted that DMK president M Karunanidhi's meeting with Vaiko in the Vellore prison was only a courtesy call.
Ramachandran also denied suggestions that the party's Union ministers were not calling on Vaiko as frequently as expected.
"If we visit him regularly, then there would again be complaints. And our work always keeps us busy," he said.
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