"I'm Not Pro-LTTE"

(February 07, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) On the banned LTTE, Chief Minister in Tamil Nadu M. Karunanidhi said 84 persons, who were smuggling gun powder, iron pellets, aluminium blocks and sophisticated communication systems were brought to book and 13 cases registered against them. Forty persons were detained under the National Security Act, including 17 Sri Lankan Tamils.

He has described AIADMK chief J Jayalalthiaa as being very desperate to come back to power.

In a statement in Chennai on Wednesday, referring to the regular press releases of the AIADMK supremo alleging deteriorating law and order situation in Tamilnadu, the Chief Minister said her [press] statements showed desperation to come back to power by hurling unfounded allegations.
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Stating that the police are taking effective steps, he said peace and communal amity prevails in the State and that the law and order situation is under control.

Modernisation of the police and implementation of the Third Police Commission’s recommendations had resulted in a steep fall in crime, violence against women and property related incidents, he said.

About 2,800 persons were detained for various offences in 2006 and 2007. Long pending criminal cases were detected during the present regime. Recovery rate of stolen property was 86 per cent in 2006. It was 89 per cent in 2007. Prohibition cases, smuggling of rice and sale of banned lottery tickets were effectively contained by the police, the Chief Minister said.

In the last two years, Thevar Jayanthi, Kandadevi Car festival, Tamirabarani day and Melavalavu Murugesan Memorial day went off peacefully. It was because of the preventive measures of the police, he said.

Similarly, appropriate steps were taken when Kumar Pandian of Hindu Munnani was murdered. This prevented the incident tirgerring communal passions.

Moreover, six persons were arrested in Madurai when they attempted to smuggle gunpowder to the island nation. As a result of concerted effort by the Coast Guard, Indian Navy and the State (coastal) police, attack on Indian fishermen and smuggling has been controlled effectively, he said.

Interestingly, the Chief Minister said the people are happy. ‘There is no sense of fear or threat among the people,’ he quipped and added that only ‘those’ who allege worsening law and order situation were trying in several ways to do it.

Without naming the AIADMK, he said ‘they’ tried to wreck peace outside [in the State] and when that became not possible, they attempted doing it inside the State Assembly. However, they did not succeed. Quoting a Thirukural, Karunanidhi said even the ancient compilation of wisdom chided those who used words that were not in tune with the nature of platform they were in.