Kannappan dares Jaya government to arrest him

Central Minister M. Kannappan of the MDMK, whose dismissal had been demanded by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Tuesday, has virtually challenged the state government to arrest him on Prevention of Terrorism Act charges.

At a press conference in Coimbatore yesterday, he said that Jayalalithaa's threat to arrest him under POTA was politically motivated. He said he had not said anything that was questionable under POTA and he had no intention of submitting his resignation from the government. Only Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee could drop him from the government, he added.

In Chennai, his political leader, Vaiko, said that Jayalalithaa's threat to arrest Kannappan was an act of vengeance.

DMK leader Karunanidhi also challenged Jayalalithaa's threat to arrest Kannappan under POTA for allegedly supporting the banned LTTE of Sri Lanka.

BJP President Venkiah Naidu who passed through Chennai after attending the BJP meeting in Tiruppur, said: "We do not think that Kannappan has said anything to attract arrest under POTA".

Deputy Prime Minister Advani told newsmen that any decision on Kannappan would be taken only after the return of Vajpayee from his foreign tour. He, however, added that state governments were authorised to take action under POTA.

Pattali Makkal Katchi leader Dr Ramadoss also opposed any move for his arrest.

Meanwhile, at the three-day party conclave of the DMK which ended on Tuesday at Villupuram, speakers said that it was for the BJP to decide on whether they wanted the DMK in the National Democratic Alliance. Karunanidhi warned that the DMK would have a major say on who ruled in New Delhi.

The 16 resolutions adopted at the conference went against BJP policies as also speeches at the conference. Durai Murugan flatly supported the BSP and Mayawati of UP in her charge that she was being hounded by Hindutva forces. Murugan said that she was being hounded because she was a 'Sudra' depressed class person.