Dinakaran attack; AIADMK stages walks out

Chennai, May 10: The main Opposition party AIADMK today staged a walkout from the Tamil Nadu Assembly demanding the resignation of Chief Minister M Karunanidhi over yesterday's violent incidents in Madurai that left three people dead.

Speaking on the issue this morning during the Zero Hour, Mr D Jayakumar (AIADMK) said the incident was the ''outcome'' of a power struggle in the Chief Minister's family.

''The 'dynastic politics' in Mr Karunanidhi's family resulted in the death of three employees of Tamil daily 'Dinakaran.' The police remained inactive and no action was taken against the DMK partymen involved in the incident,'' he claimed.

''Whenever AIADMK members staged an agitation, they were arrested and jailed. However, the television footage of various channels showed the police remaining 'mute spectators'. Though SUN TV listed the names of the accused, no action was taken,'' he added.

Mr Jayakumar charged Mr Karunanidhi, who also held the Home portfolio, with failing to discharge his duty properly. Such incidents had never occurred during the previous AIADMK regime when the state remained a haven of peace, he said and demanded the Chief Minister's resignation for not being able to maintain law and order in the state.

He also asked the Centre to dismiss the government by invoking Article 356 of the Constitution to maintain public peace.

After the speech, AIADMK Whip K A Sengottayan led party members out of the House with the MDMK following suit.

AIADMK's ally, MDMK, also demanded the resignation of the Chief Minister, owning moral responsbility for the incident. Speaking on the motion, Mr Veeraelavarasan (MDMK) condoled the death of three people and condemned the violent incidents. However, leaders of coalition partners of the DMK lauded the performance of all the 13 Union Ministers from the State and said ''talking high of someone and low of others among the coalition are not good in a democracy.'' The speakers also expressed regret for the incident that took place just two days ahead of the golden jubilee celebrations of Mr Karunanidhi in the State Assembly.

Mr D Sudarsanam (Congress) questioned the necessity for such an opinion poll and demanded stern action against those involved in the violence.

''Whoever it may be, whosoever he may be, even if they are police officials, stringent action should be taken'', he added.

PMK floor leader G K Mani said opinion polls in the country were failures and the newspaper should have exercised restraint.

''The media should follow the ethics and not publish such surveys in the name of Freedom of Press'', he said, condemning the incidents.

''We should support the Election Commission to prevent conduct of such opinion polls'', he added.

Mr C Govindasamy (CPI-M) and Mr V Sivapunniyam (CPI) said the Government should take action without any fear or favour as it was an attack on the Freedom of the Press. ''Press is one of the four pillars of democracy and it is important to protect its freedom''.

Mr Selvam of the Dalit Panthers of India wanted the Government to take steps to prevent publication of such surveys.

UNI