Cong, AIADMK walkout on VCK leader's arrest for LTTE support

Chennai, Jan 29 (UNI) The main Opposition AIADMK and the Congress, a constituent of the DMK-led DPA in Tamil Nadu, today staged a walkout from the State Assembly demanding the arrest of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) Leader Thol Thirumavalavan for ''his open support to the proscribed LTTE and demand to lift the ban on the organisation.

The walkout, specially by the Congress on the issue, generated much heat and left Chief Minister and DMK President M Karunanidhi unhappy as it came after he gave a detailed reply to the House and expressed the government's desire to enact a special law to curb expression of support to banned outfits like the LTTE in the State.

Soon after the Question Hour, members of the Congress and the AIADMK raised the issue with the latter even supporting the Congress' stance and wanting the Speaker to allow Mr C Gnanasekaran (Cong) to continue with his speech.

Coming hard on the VCK, also a constituent of the DPA, Mr Gnanasekaran and other Congress members demanded the arrest of Mr Thirumavalavan for openly supporting the LTTE by organising a conference in the name of ''Rights of Freedom of Expresson'' and for demanding lifting of the ban on LTTE, which was responsible for the killing of Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

The Chief Minister, said there was no change in the government's stand and that of the DMK on the issue and said he would consult legal experts and if needed, a special law could be enacted to prevent expression of support to the banned outfits.

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