The Hindu : Govt. only performing its duty: Vasan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 13, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Govt. only performing its duty: Vasan

By Our Special Correspondent

MADURAI JULY 12. The State Government is only performing its duty in seeking a ban of the MDMK, whose leader, Vaiko, has been arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, the TMC president, G. K. Vasan, has said.

Talking to presspersons here today, Mr. Vasan said his party had nothing to comment on what was perceived as a ``duty of the Government.'' It was wrong to support a banned organisation and the Government was dutybound to act on whoever did so. ``However, we have to wait and see the process'' undertaken by the Government to get the ban, he said.

Mr. Vasan, who inspected three possible venues here for the function to mark the merger of the TMC with the Congress, said the merger decision was unanimous and ``there is no difference of opinion'' in the TMC. The objective, he said, was to realise G. K. Moopanar's dream of reviving Congress rule in Tamil Nadu. The merger would also strengthen the Congress in the State. Mr. Vasan clarified that the merger function was being organised by the TMC and the AICC president, Sonia Gandhi, would be taking part in it on their invitation.

On the modalities of the merger, Mr. Vasan said ``individual posts do not matter for us. This is the lesson learnt by us from Moopanar.''

The TMC leader, who discussed the arrangements for the function with party functionaries, said the venue would be announced in a couple of days, keeping in mind security considerations. He would tour the districts from July 22 to 30 to meet the local leaders ``to make the function a grand success.''

He also brushed aside speculation of rift in the party over the merger, pointing out that the Madurai Central MLA, M. A. Hakeem, had accompanied him in the inspection of venues.

The MLA was also present at the venue of the press conference.

Mr. Vasan appealed to the Government to consider the demand of farmers for declaring the composite Madurai and Ramnad districts drought-hit.

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