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
