Indian Government Clean Chit To DMK Over LTTE

(February 17, New Delhi, Sri Lanka Guardian) The central government of India on Saturday gave a clean chit to the DMK regime in Tamil Nadu, saying it had done 'better than others' in curbing security threats to the nation and there was no LTTE infiltration in the state.

On a visit to Ramanathapuram district, about 650 km south of Chennai, central Minister of State for Home Sri Prakash Jaiswal said, 'The state government has done better than other states in dealing with national security and terrorism.'

He added Tamil Nadu's performance was 'satisfactory' on the law and order front.

When compared to the 'previous regime' of opposition leader J. Jayalalitha of the AIADMK, 'the situation under the DMK rule is very good', he said adding there was no major terror activities in the state.

Quizzed on the rise in activities of the Liberation Tiger of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the state - as alleged by both the opposition AIADMK and the state Congress - Jaiswal said the AIADMK leader was indulging in 'false propaganda' against the DMK regime.

Questioned about the Congress walkout from the assembly over the DMK's alleged support to the LTTE, even though the party is a DMK ally, Jaiswal said the Congress legislators were protesting the lack of opportunity to speak in the assembly.

Asked about central Finance Minister P. Chidambaram's appeal to the M. Karunanidhi government 'not to allow LTTE activities in the state', Jaiswal said he was 'not aware of any LTTE infiltration' into Tamil Nadu.