Karunanidhi regrets attack on journalists

Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Monday said that those who staged a black flag demonstration against him on the High Court campus on Sunday were instigated by outsiders.

People would not forgive those who sought to convert the High Court into a battle ground, he said.

“Let us all forget yesterday's incident and show people a good path,” he told parties in the Assembly and advocates.

Expressing his regret over the attack on journalists, Mr. Karunanidhi said that such an incident would not recur. Better security would be provided to journalists, he added.

Replying to a special call attention notice given by a host of parties, Mr. Karunanidhi told the Assembly that he did not understand why the demonstrators, numbering five or six, shouted slogans (“we will not allow”) against him, when he began to address a function to unveil the statue of the Constitution Draft Committee chairman B.R. Ambedkar on the High Court campus.

The protesters did not raise slogans when he entered the premises or when he came on to the dais.

Referring to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) floor leader K. Balabharathy's appreciation of Mr. Karunanidhi's composure during the incident, the Chief Minister recounted how former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had praised him once when she along with him attended a function in Tuticorin.

“Till the end, I will continue to speak, whether a snake is let loose where I speak or stones and slippers are thrown,” he declared.

Democratic protest

Giving an elaborate account of his role in perpetuating Ambedkar's memory and how his party had organised several black flag agitations, the Chief Minister recalled that he had unveiled a statue of the Dravida Kazhagam founder E.V. Ramasamy at the spot in Cuddalore where a slipper was thrown at the DK leader once.

Through democratic means, the DMK and the Dravidian movement had conducted black flag protests.

Referring to the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) whip T. Velmurugan's observation that talks could have been held with all sections before the function was held, Mr. Karunanidhi said that not only office-bearers of the Madras High Court Advocates Association president but also a judge of the Madras High Court had spoken to all sections and counselled them not to create any trouble.

Then, they had assured the authorities of their cooperation.

Lawyers' demand

On the lawyers' demand for action against four police officers, he said the officers had obtained a stay order from courts against the government move.

D. Jayakumar (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) called for action against those who indulged in violence and wanted the Chief Minister to own up responsibility and tender his resignation.

Legislators C. Gnanasekaran (Congress), T. Sadan Thirumalai Kumar (Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam), V. Sivapunniyam (CPI) and D. Ravikumar (Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi) deplored the attack on journalists.