The Hindu : 'Has Advani forgotten promise?'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 27, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

'Has Advani forgotten promise?'

By Our Special Correspondent

Coimbatore April 26. The DMK president, M.Karunanidhi, today wondered whether the Deputy Prime Minister ,L.K.Advani, forgot the promise he gave in Parliament that the Prevention of Terrorism Act would not be allowed to be misused.

Addressing a public meeting (after having been discharged from hospital where he was taken as he had developed "uneasiness" at a function here this morning), Mr. Karunanidhi openly voiced his displeasure at the way the Centre had been handling the POTA issue.

Not only his party but also the PMK and the MDMK had to vote for the law because they were "duty - bound" ( being allies in the NDA Government). It was meant to combat terrorism.

However, sceptical of how the State Governments, especially Tamil Nadu , would use this Act ,"I asked openly whether this would not be misused." Then the Deputy Prime Minister gave the solemn assurance, that too in Parliament, that it would not be allowed to be misused. But in Tamil Nadu, several political leaders were incarcerated. "Vaiko (MDMK general secretary) might be able to put up with all the suffering for the past more than eight months. I cannot tolerate the torture which he is subjected to".

He wanted to know from the Centre whether it was not aware of all unjustified and unwarranted arrests and the trials and tribulations inflicted on the political opponents.

"I am asking the Centre openly what happened to your promise".

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