DMK planning violence in House: CM

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, AUG. 17. The Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa, today accused the DMK of planning to create bedlam in the Assembly as part of attempts to get the AIADMK Government dismissed citing breakdown of law and order.

Talking to reporters at the AIADMK headquarters after a meeting of the party MLAs here, she said she had asked the ruling party members to remain calm whatever the provocation during the session.

Claiming to have received intelligence reports of the DMK's agenda to create ``bedlam and unprecedented violence'' in the Assembly, she said she had already informed the Speaker, Mr. K. Kalimuthu, of this.

Ms. Jayalalithaa alleged that the Union Minister, Mr. Murasoli Maran, had made an incendiary speech at the DMK general council meeting. (The DMK president, Mr. Karunanidhi, later wanted to know how Ms.Jayalalithaa was so sure of what transpired in the general council. ``Did she have her police people here, or did she bug the place,'' he asked. ``If that is the case, that in itself is a big crime, ''he said and alleged that it was Ms. Jayalalithaa's party which believed in violence and terror tactics.)

``If the need arises and the occasion demands,'' the Government would consider informing the Centre of Mr. Maran's speech, Ms. Jayalalithaa said.

The DMK MLAs, she said, would try to provoke AIADMK members by using ``filthy epithets'' against her and demeaning her during the Assembly session. They knew that this was a ``sure way to provoke our MLAs.'' The AIADMK members had therefore been told to give their reply in a ``parliamentary language,'' she added.

However, Mr. Karunanidhi told reporters that his party would adhere to ``democratic norms''. Though he refused to elaborate on the issues which the DMK would raise, he said his party would speak on issues whenever there was an opportunity.

If the DMK was prevented from discharging its duties as the main Opposition, it would take suitable steps. Even this would not be beyond the canons of democratic decency, he said.

Asked whether the manner of his arrest and the violence during the DMK rally would figure as issues, he countered: ``How can we not talk about it?''

Asked whether there would be floor coordination between the DMK and the PMK, he said this would be ``known only tomorrow (Saturday, during the budget presentation).''

He was addressing presspersons after a strategy session with the party MLAs.

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Section  : Southern States
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