Chennai, Oct 15: Describing the attack on party MP Mani Shankar Aiyar as an 'outrageous criminal assault', the Congress party in Tamil Nadu today demanded 'restoration' of law and order and a 'constitutional government' in the state, failing which the centre should take action under various constitutional provisions. In a memorandum to the Governor, P S Ramamohan Rao, four top Congress leaders, including Aiyar, also demanded a public apology from the Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, for her 'misbehaviour' and steps to identify and punish the culprits and those responsible for 'instigating this attempted assassination of democracy.'
'Government-sponsored terrorism is rendering it impossible for elected opposition representatives to discharge their duties and therefore, we appeal to you to ensure that Tamil Nadu gets a form of governance which better understands than the present fascist government', the leaders said.
Since the governor was away, the memorandum was submitted to the Raj Bhavan officials.
The leaders who went to Raj Bhavan included besides Aiyar, AICC secretary G K Vasan, TNCC president S Balakrishnan, working president E V K S Elangovan, and leader of the Congress legislature party S R Balasubramonian.
Later, Aiyar told reporters at the party headquarters, that the attack was 'instigated' by Jayalalithaa and that it did not take place 'spontaneously'.
MPa, MLAs and partymen would boycott government functions hereafter. A privilege issue would be raised in the Lok Sabha and a public meeting would be held in Chennai on October 20 to condemn the attack, Balakrishnan said.
Bureau Report