Jaya must be put behind bars, says Jethmalani

NEW DELHI, APRIL 19: Demanding the arrests of AIADMK leader Jayalalitha and Janata Party president Subramaniam Swamy on different counts,...

NEW DELHI, APRIL 19: Demanding the arrests of AIADMK leader Jayalalitha and Janata Party president Subramaniam Swamy on different counts, Urban Affairs and Employment Minister Ram Jethmalani today asked Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to convene a meeting of the Union Cabinet and recommend the dissolution of the Lok Sabha to President K R Narayanan.

Addressing a press conference here, he said Jayalalitha 8220;must be locked up and the trials must be run day-to-day by judges who cannot be intimidated and by prosecutors who are not impressed by her wealth8221;.

In this connection, Jethmalani, also a noted lawyer, referred to the transfer of Jayalalitha8217;s cases from competent courts to those selected by her. 8220;This was an act of appeasement different from previous ones. This involved tinkering with the judicial process and subversion of the entire judicial system8221;.

On Dr Swamy, he said he had submitted 20 pieces of circumstantial evidence to the Jain Commission, which went into the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, raising strong suspicion of the Janata Party chief8217;s complicity in the murder of the former Prime Minister. The Jain Commission had also commented in its report that Dr Swamy did not cooperate with it. 8220;He Dr Swamy should be booked in public interest8230;He deserves to be arrested and investigated8221;.

Jethmalani claimed that the Cabinet knew nothing about the notification issued to transfer Jayalalitha8217;s cases. 8220;It was a smooth clandestine operation at least so far as I am concerned8230;I advised my colleagues that this notification be withdrawn and the withdrawal reported to the Supreme Court8221;. However, this was not done and, therefore, he tendered his resignation to the Prime Minister on April 9. 8220;My resignation was not accepted and I was told not to talk to the Press. I no longer feel obliged to follow this directive8221;.

He said even the Prime Minister was not aware of the transfer of Jayalalitha8217;s cases, hinting that it was done by former Law Minister M Thambidurai, who was the AIADMK nominee in the Cabinet.

Asked why Vajpayee did not accept his resignation and instead asked him not to speak to the Press, the Minister said, 8220;Because he the Prime Minister did not want to precipitate the crisis8221;.

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On Vajpayee Government losing the vote of confidence, he said 8220;Morally and politically, we have not lost8221;.

He claimed that the Vajpayee Government could not be described as caretaker. 8220;I feel that our Cabinet should meet and formally advice the President to dissolve the House and the constitutional position is that this advice will be binding on the President,8221; he added.