Karunanidhi urges party cadre not to criticise Vaiko

Chennai, Mar 12 (UNI) DMK President M Karunanidhi today urged his party cadre not to criticise MDMK General Secretary Vaiko for his decision to quit the Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) and join the rival front AIADMK.

In a poem published in the party organ 'Murasoli,' the octagenarian leader, heading the DPA, said he had taken the ''whole episode'' in his stride as it was on expected lines.

Without referring to Mr Vaiko by name, the DMK chief said though he had taken the decision to switch sides two months ago, he had all along ''pretended to have been happy and friendly in the alliance.'' Recalling the legal battle between the DMK and the MDMK over the party flag and party headquarters 'Anna Arivalayam' after Mr Vaiko's exit from the DMK in 1993, Mr Karunanidhi said if the DMK had not won the case, Mr Vaiko would have surrendered the 'Anna Arivalayam' to political rivals.

''We are facing the consequence now for forgiving him for his heinous act and allowing him into our alliance,'' he said and added that ''let us wish him well and let him live with truthfulness hereafter.'' UNI AKN KVV SHB BS1414