(rpting, with corrections)

Chennai, Dec 17 (UNI) Janta Party President Subramanian Swamy today condemned the condolence expressed by the DMK President and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on the death of the LTTE leader Anton Balasingham.

In a statement here, Dr Swamy said Balasingham was a terrorist, who ''publicly and arrogantly relished'' the assassination of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1995. He had also warned the Sri Lankan former President Chandrika Kumaratunga that she would face the same fate as Rajiv Gandhi had, if she confronted the LTTE, he alleged.

''It was, therefore, shocking that Mr Karunanidhi had stated that his (Balasingha) demise is an irreparable loss'', he said, querying ''to whom and for what.'' Dr Swamy alleged that Mr Karunanidhi was now showing his true ''tiger stripes'', hence the people of Tamil Nadu should be beware.

Also, Sonia Gandhi should explain whether her political alliance partner is expressing her sentiments, too, on Balasingham's demise.

In Sonia's recent letter to Mr Karunanidhi, her support to the LTTE was amply evident, when she referred to the killing of innocent women and children by the Sri Lankan armed forces, he added.

UNI RV PDM GC1422