Image: Members of Congress party walking out of the Assembly on Tuesdayby Special Correspondent
(January 29, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) For the first time since the DMK , a ruling political party in Tamil Nadu came to power in 2006, its trusted ally Congress staged a walkout in the Assembly on the LTTE issue.
The walkout came even after the Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's assurance to frame a law to take action against those supporting or expressing solidarity to the banned terrorist organisation.
Replying to the issue raised by AIADMK and Congress members in connection with the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol Thirumavalavan's speech in support of LTTE at a conference held in the city, Karunanidhi said quoting a Supreme Court order on a POTA case that action should not be taken for merely expressing support or solidarity to the banned outfit.
Chief Minister said that the government would constitute a panel of legal experts to frame a legislation to tackle the situation aroused out of the apex court's order.
Stating that the government is caught in a piquant situation as there are pro and anti LTTE parties in its alliance, he said that there was no change in the DMK's stand on LTTE of pre and post Rajiv Gandhi era.
He also urged the alliance party leaders in general and Thirumavalavan in particular to be cautious as it is good for them as well as for the government.
'I am not stating this to save the government, but only to maintain peace in the State,' he said.
Earlier, raising the issue AIADMK Whip K A Sengottaiyan demanded the State government to recommend to the Centre to ban those parties and organisations which are supporting LTTE.
Congress MLA Jayakumar questioned the government on what basis the permission was granted to VCK to hold the conference in support of LTTE.
He recalled the efforts made by the Congress party and the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to resolve Tamils ethnic issue in the neighbouring country.
During the discussion, the Congress members raised slogans to arrest Thirumavalavan for speaking in support of LTTE.
Later AIADMK and Congress staged a walk out protesting against the Speaker R Avudaiyappan's denial to speak further on the issue.
Speaking outside the Assembly, Congress Whip Peter Alphonse said, 'we cannot tolerate any support to the banned LTTE which was engaged in the assasination of our beloved leader Rajiv Gandhi.
LTTE is spreading arms culture in the State which is a threat to the internal and national security.'He said,'we ask the government to take strict action against those supporting the banned organisation in the State.'
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