Jaya appeals to Vandaiyar to give up fast

Chennai, May 1 (UNI) AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa today appealed to Moovendhar Munnetra Kazhagam (MMK) President Sridhar Vandaiyar, arrested and lodged in the Tiruchirapalli Central Prison, to give up his fast-unto-death.

Assuring her party's full support to the MMK to protect democracy, she said in a statement here that there was a need for all Opposition parties to fight against the ruling DMK.

Mr Vandaiyar was arrested on Sunday after he allegedly entered the Sirkazhi police station and forcibly released his party volunteers, who were taken into preventive custody to prevent them from showing black flags to DMK Deputy General Secretary and State Local Administration Minister M K Stalin at Vaitheeswarankovil. Mr Vandaiyar and his party workers had launched an indefinite fast in protest against the alleged police action.

UNI