Chennai, Apr 20: Janata Party today demanded the withdrawal of DMK ministers from the Vajpayee ministry, if the DMK was serious on demanding repeal of Pota. Janata Party president Dr Subramaniam Swamy told reporters that the DMK was adopting double standards because even while it demanded Pota's repeal, it also wanted to retain its representatives in the Vajpayee ministry. If the DMK president M Karunanidhi was serious in his demand to repeal Pota, he should tell the Prime Minister A B Vajpayee that he would withdraw his party's nominees from the Union Cabinet.
He said the demand for the dismissal of the Jayalalithaa government by some opposition parties in Tamil Nadu was unjustified. The Article 356 of the Constitution could not be used freely in the light of the Bommai judgement of the Supreme Court, he said adding that there was no constitutional break down in the state for invoking it.

He justified the arrest of R R Gopal, editor of 'Nakkheeran', Tamil biweekly under Pota. Gopal had helped the forest brigand Veerappan in many ways and there was nothing wrong in arresting him under Pota, he said.

Bureau Report