Advani expresses distress

By Kesava Menon

ISTANBUL, JUNE 30. The Union Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani, has expressed his distress at the arrest of the DMK leader, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, in Chennai and has spoken to other key leaders of the National Democratic Alliance asking them to convene a meeting on the issue.

``The happenings in Chennai are extremely distressing. No one would like to impede the due process of law but in a democracy there should be no scope for any kind of personal vendetta. The age and health of the former Chief Minister should be borne in mind whenever any executive decisions are taken.'' The last part of his comment pertained to the report that the Tamil Nadu Government had wanted to move Mr. Karunanidhi to Vellore.

Mr. Advani said he had spoken to the Prime Minister, Mr. A. B. Vajpayee, the Foreign and Defence Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh, and Mr. George Fernandes. He had suggested to them that they should convene a meeting of the NDA at the earliest so that the Tamil Nadu Government would be notified of the seriousness with which the Centre viewed these developments.

PTI reports from New Delhi:

Mr. Advani talking to Zee news hoped that Ms. Jayalalitha would reconsider the whole matter and take an appropriate step in this regard.

He was constantly in touch with the developments in Tamil Nadu through the Home Secretary who had advised the State Chief Secretary and DGP To act according to law. Mr. Advani said he had sought a detailed report about the whole episode.

He also referred the reported statement of the Law Minister Mr. Arun Jaitely, and said ``may be somebody is going to approach the court on the suggestions given by Mr. Jaitley''.

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