Treasury, Oppn lock hors on Mk's arrest episode

Chennai, Apr 2 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Assembly today witnessed some verbal exchanges between the Treasury and Opposition Benches when Finance Minister K Anbazhagan referred to the midnight arrest of DMK President and Former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi during the previous AIADMK Regime.

Intervening Deputy Leader of the Opposition O Panneerselvam (AIADMK) who alleged the DMK regime was adopting vindictive attitude towards the Opposition party, Mr Anbazhagan said the AIADMK Regime had the history of arresting a Former Chief Minister at midnight ''using the police as goondas.'' ''The AIADMK has the history of arresting a Former Chief Minister, without filing a case and FIR, at midnight as if he had committed a major crime'', Mr Anbazhagan said.

He made this remark when Mr Panneerselvam, while winding up the Budget Debate, alleged the DMK Government had foisted cases on AIADMK MLA Pollachi V Jayaraman and had also booked about 50 Adi-dravidars under the Protection of Civic Liberaties Act.

Intervening, PWD Minister Duraimurugan said Mr Jayaraman along with a group had abused the watchman of the guest house, where they stayed, by caste and also attacked him, following which cases were registered.

As there shouts and counter shouts for a while, Mr Anbazhagan said if there was any grievance, it could be brought to the attention of the Chief Minister who would consider them favourably.

UNI GV GM RL HT1707