Court allows Vaiko to take part in Pota debate

The Madras High Court yesterday gave permission to MDMK leader Vaiko MP, now detained on Prevention of Terrorism Act, to go to New Delhi to attend Parliament and participate in the discussion on Pota.

Vaiko, who has been in jail since July 11 last year on charges of having supported the banned LTTE , is expected to leave for New Delhi today morning. The court while giving him permission to go has placed one condition—that he should not communicate with the media. The Tamil Nadu government, yesterday opposed the plea from Vaiko and is now likely to file an appeal against the High Court judgement.

Meanwhile the DMK yesterday organised statewide demonstrations demanding repeal of Pota and against the "misrule" by the AIADMK government.

The government yesterday arrested thousands of DMK demonstrators and bundled them off to prison. A District Secretary of the party was held after 'Preventive' arrests last night.

Karunanidhi late last evening hinted that the DMK would pull out of the NDA if Pota was not withdrawn and he also suggested that the party would withdraw its ministers in the Central Government over the issue.

Karunanidhi said at the party headquarters this evening that a high level meeting of the party would be held shortly to decide the issue. The date of the meeting would be announced tomorrow.