Nagapattinam, Apr 29: MDMK leader Vaiko today alleged that the arrest of Tamil magazine "Nakheeran" editor R R Gopal "is an attempt to crush democracy and freedom of the press." Talking to reporters after appearing before a sessions court here in connection with an assault case, he alleged that the charges levelled against the journalist, including possession of an unlicenced revolver, were fictious.

"The people would lose confidence in the police if such acts continued," he said.


Asked to comment on BJP president Venkaiah Naidu's reported remark at Thiruvananthapuram recently that NDA allies wanting to continue in the alliance may remain and those which wanted to quit may do so, Vaiko said that Naidu may have may have made the remark based on the prevailing political situation in Kerala.

Earlier, the additional session court adjourned the case against Vaiko filed by the local police to June 12.

Bureau Report