Jaya says Vaiko, Kannappan arrest is "political vengeance"

Chennai, Oct 23 (UNI) AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa today described the arrest of her alliance party leader and MDMK General Secretary Vaiko as an act of ''political vengeance'' and questioned why the DMK government did not arrest film personalities and leaders of other political parties who supported the banned LTTE.

In a statement here, she said if MDMK leaders Vaiko and Mr Kannppaan could be arrested on charges of sedition, why could not the government apply the same to film directors Seeman, Amir, Ramanaryanan and Bharathiraaja for their pro-LTTE speeches during the film industry rally at Rameswaram on October 19 to support the cause of lankan Tamils.

Stating that the arrest of the MDMK leaders was an half-hearted act. She said if the DMK considered all were equal before law, why it did not arrest Seeman, Amir and Bharathiraja who spoke against the country's sovereignty in the Rameswaram rally.

''These people had made the remarks on October 19, three days before Mr Vaiko and Mr Kannappan made the remarks'', she said.

Similarly, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader Thol Thirumavalavan also made speeches in support of the banned LTTE in January. But the government was yet to take action against them.

Mr Karunandihi owed an explanation to this and he could not have a different yardstick for those who opposed him politically and to those who supported him, she added.

Alleging that arrest of the MDMK leaders was also politically motivated, Ms Jayalalithaa said Mr Karunanidhi had taken the action to save his government and remain in power. ''It's not that he has taken the action out of patriotism'', she charged.

She also doubted whether Mr Karunanidhi had the moral right to arrest those who supported the LTTE, when he had himself penned a poem condoling the killing LTTE's political wing leader Tamilchelvan.

''For this alone Mr Karunandihi should have been arrested. But Mr Karunanidhi being the Chief Minister, the state DGP could not take action. Hence the Centre should arrest under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and dismiss the DMK government without any delay'', she demanded.

UNI WS-GV VV SK BD2112