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Fernandes-Karunanidhi talks on Pota break down
Chennai, Nov 03: Centre`s efforts to mollify DMK president M Karunandihi on the issue of Pota failed tonight when talks between him and NDA convenor and Defence Minister George Fernandes broke down with the NDA constituent from Tamil Nadu sticking to his stand that nothing short of repeal of the anti-terror law was acceptable to it.
Chennai, Nov 03: Centre's efforts to mollify DMK president M Karunandihi on the issue of Pota failed tonight when talks between him and NDA convenor and Defence Minister George Fernandes broke down with the NDA constituent from Tamil Nadu sticking to his stand that nothing short of repeal of the anti-terror law was acceptable to it.
Fernandes, who flew to Chennai apparently on instruction from Prime Minister A B Vajpayee to convince Karunanidhi who had been demanding repeal of Pota, had an hour-long meeting with the DMK chief.
Emerging from the meeting with Karunanidhi, Fernandes admitted there were differences on this issue between the constituents of NDA and it should be 'reconciled and resolved by some way or the other'.
"Karunanidhi's stand on Pota is known and he maintains it," he said.
Karunanidhi told reporters separately that Fernandes expressed the NDA government's 'difficulties' on accepting his demand but he had told him that "we are not in a position to accept the government's stand”.
"I urged him to take some steps for the early release of MDMK chief Vaiko, Tamil National Movement leader P Nedumaran, both Pota detenus," Karunanidhi said.
He said he had also apprised Fernandes of the view of legal experts who have raised doubts over the release of Vaiko and others even after promulgation of the recent ordinance on Pota making the view of the review committee binding on the Centre and the state governments.
The only way out was repeal of Pota, Karunanidhi insisted.
"There are differences which are to be reconciled. Differences have to resolved in some way or the other," Fernandes said.
Asked for his comments on BJP's rejection of DMK's demand for repeal of Pota, Fernandes said, "It is not the decision of BJP. It is NDA government's decision."
Fernandes said he had come here due to the inability of Karunanidhi to travel to Delhi on health grounds to discuss important issues.
Though Fernandes and Karunanidhi maintained that the former did not come here to dissuade Karunanidhi from his agitation path to press for repeal of Pota, Fernandes said he had discussed a "whole lot of issues like Pota and the recent ordinance for an hour”.
Fernandes' sudden visit to Chennai to meet Karunanidhi assumes significance in the wake media speculation that DMK might ally with congress for the next Lok Sabha polls.
Asked to explain his statement at a function organised to release the books authored by two Congress leaders that he would take a decision on party's electoral stand at an appropriate time, Karunanidhi said, "Do not read in between the lines." Bureau Report
Emerging from the meeting with Karunanidhi, Fernandes admitted there were differences on this issue between the constituents of NDA and it should be 'reconciled and resolved by some way or the other'.
"Karunanidhi's stand on Pota is known and he maintains it," he said.
Karunanidhi told reporters separately that Fernandes expressed the NDA government's 'difficulties' on accepting his demand but he had told him that "we are not in a position to accept the government's stand”.
"I urged him to take some steps for the early release of MDMK chief Vaiko, Tamil National Movement leader P Nedumaran, both Pota detenus," Karunanidhi said.
He said he had also apprised Fernandes of the view of legal experts who have raised doubts over the release of Vaiko and others even after promulgation of the recent ordinance on Pota making the view of the review committee binding on the Centre and the state governments.
The only way out was repeal of Pota, Karunanidhi insisted.
"There are differences which are to be reconciled. Differences have to resolved in some way or the other," Fernandes said.
Asked for his comments on BJP's rejection of DMK's demand for repeal of Pota, Fernandes said, "It is not the decision of BJP. It is NDA government's decision."
Fernandes said he had come here due to the inability of Karunanidhi to travel to Delhi on health grounds to discuss important issues.
Though Fernandes and Karunanidhi maintained that the former did not come here to dissuade Karunanidhi from his agitation path to press for repeal of Pota, Fernandes said he had discussed a "whole lot of issues like Pota and the recent ordinance for an hour”.
Fernandes' sudden visit to Chennai to meet Karunanidhi assumes significance in the wake media speculation that DMK might ally with congress for the next Lok Sabha polls.
Asked to explain his statement at a function organised to release the books authored by two Congress leaders that he would take a decision on party's electoral stand at an appropriate time, Karunanidhi said, "Do not read in between the lines." Bureau Report