AIADMK to demand reopening of Sarkaria commission findings

CHENNAI, April 6: Union Minister for Surface Transport R Muthiah said today that AIADMK MPs would demand reopening of Central Bureau of Inve...

CHENNAI, April 6: Union Minister for Surface Transport R Muthiah said today that AIADMK MPs would demand reopening of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) cases filed in the mid-1970s, on the basis of the findings of the Sarkaria Commission against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on corruption charges, and later withdrawn in 1980.

Speaking to reporters here outside the special court complex, Muthiah, who had come to court as an accused in a `disproportionate wealth’ case, said his party MPs would also demand dismissal of the DMK government for its failure to maintain law and order.

Asked if he would resign on moral grounds following the example of BJP President L K Advani, who quit his Lok Sabha seat after being charge-sheeted in the `hawala’ scam, Muthiah pointed out that Advani had been charged along with other politicians and hence had taken the decision. “Karunanidhi is the one who should resign as the Sarkaria Commission had held him guilty of corrupt practices,” he said.

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Stating thathis party had registered a complaint with the CBI about six months ago, he said a similar complaint would be filed with the city police.

When it was pointed out that the Prime Minister A B Vajpayee was against the use of Article 356, Muthiah said dismissal of the DMK government would not amount to misuse but proper use of the article.

Asked if he demanded dropping of cases against former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha, Muthiah replied in the negative and said he was confident that the AIADMK supremo would prove her innocence.

When asked about the Prime Minister’s direction to his ministerial colleagues to disclose their wealth, he said “I will provide the same details that I have given to the authorities in connection with the case foisted on me.” The investigating agency might not accept it as the truth, he said. He said that Karunanidhi was against him for many years and was now trying to harass his family members.

For Kolkata, the IMD has forecast mostly cloudy skies with light to moderate rain or thundershowers on most days through Panchami.

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