The simmering differences between the ruling DMK and the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) came to the fore in the Tamil Nadu Assembly yesterday, when a TMC member, A Chellakumar, demanded that Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, clear himself of charges against him in the Sarkaria commission report.
Participating in the debate on the demands for grants to the police department, Chellakumar said doubts had arisen in the public mind about the commissions report, especially following former Chief Minister Jayalalithas recent interview, in which she had referred to indictment of Karunanidhi by the Sarkaria commission.
However, Karunanidhi said two attempts were made during the chief ministership of late M G Ramachandran to file cases against him based on the commissions report, but the then advocate general, V P Raman, had given opinions that there was no basis at all for initiating criminal proceedings.
Chellakumars sudden reference to Sarkaria commission, which dates back to the days of the Emergency, caused a flutter in the ruling party benches, but the Chief Minister asked his party members to remain calm.
When Chellakumar said the full facts about the commissions findings should come out, the deputy speaker, Parithi Ilamvazhuthi, who was in the chair, said the reports contents were well-known, and it was available in the volumes in the Assembly library. He suggested that the member read the report if he had any doubts about its contents.
Karunanidhi, while clarifying that the advocate generals opinion had put paid to attempts to file cases against him in 1977 and 1979, remarked he knew that such things would figure in the discussion and had brought the relevent files with him.
Chellakumar began his speech with a remark that though the government had changed, the situation with regard to crime and law and order appeared to be the same. He went on to dwell at length on crime incidence, frequent communal and caste disturbances, explosions and custodial deaths.
While expressing satisfaction with the Chief Ministers governance so far, especially with regard to the proceedings against former AIADMK ministers for corruption, the TMC member said the person who initiated such a drives should himself be free from any allegations.
On the principle that Caesars wife should be above suspicion, he wanted Karunanidhi to clear himself of the findings of the Sarkaria commission report.
