Govt will not remain silent on acts of terrorism: CM

Chennai, Apr 10 (UNI) Asserting that his government would not remain silent on any acts of terrorism or extremism in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today said it was open to expanding the terms of reference of the one-man inquiry commisson headed by senior IAS officer M F Farooqi to probe Saturday's jeep explosion at Sendur near Tindivanam in which 16 people were killed.

Responding to Deputy leader of the Opposition O Panneerselvam (AIADMK), who demanded that the terms of reference should also cover the nature of explosives transported in the ill-fated jeep, he told the state assembly that his government would not hide any facts on the issue.

''If the AIADMK leader gives it in writing about the issues to be included in the terms of reference of the inquiry commission, the government is prepared to include them,'' he said.

Cautioning that his government would not remain silent if any one indulged in terrorist or extremist acts in the State, Mr Karunanidhi said, the government had been taking stern action against those supporting terrorism, irrespective of the political party they belonged to.

''Whether they belong to the ruling DMK or any other party, the government will not allow any kind of support to terrorism and extremism,'' he said and added the government had been arresting and taking action against them.

Following pleas from various political parties that the RDO probe into the blast would not suffice, the state government had yesterday appointed Mr Farooqi to probe the incident and asked him to submit a report within a month.

The one-man inquiry Commission would go into several aspects, including review of existing rules and orders with regard to issuance of No Objection Certificate (NOC) for storage, sale, transporting and usage of explosives, and suggest measures to prevent recurrence of such accidents.

UNI