Vaiko accuses DMK of using Congress as ''weapon'' to arrest him

Chennai, Apr 30 (UNI) Amid growing pressure from the Congress to ban the Marumalarchi DMK for its open support to the banned LTTE, MDMK General Secretary Vaiko today accused the DMK government of using the Congress as a ''weapon'' to arrest him.

The MDMK leader, who was arrested under POTA and incarcerated for 19 months during the previous AIADMK regime for his pro-LTTE speech, said the ruling DMK was attempting to wreak a political vengeance on him.

Asserting that he had brought to light the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils on several occasions and had also expressed his view that their ongoing struggle for rights should succeed, Mr Vaiko said he continued to air the same opinion.

''I've expressed this view in Parliament in the past and have also observed 'fast' on the issue outside the Parliament. I've also talked to the Prime Minister in this regard,'' he told reporters here.

Asked whether the ruling DMK was adopting ''double standards'' by reportedly taking steps to arrest him despite having opposed his incarceration under POTA on the same issue earlier, he said the DMK government was ''desperate'' to arrest him by using its ally, Congress, as a ''weapon.'' Earlier Congress MLA C Gnanasekaran had demanded in the state Assembly the arrest of Mr Vaiko for offering open support to the LTTE.

Stating that the LTTE was emboldened to kill Indian fishermen because of certain political parties' support in the state, the MLA demanded that the government impose a ban on them.

Stepping up the pressure, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) President M Krishnasamy also called on Chief Minister M Karunanidhi yesterday and reiterated the same demand.

Mr Karunanidhi had assured the Assembly that the state government would consult the Centre and take a decision on banning political parties and organisations which supported the outlawed LTTE.

UNI