A pro-LTTE meeting organised in the city by the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), an ally of the ruling DMK, demanding lifting of the ban on the terrorist outfit, triggered pandemonium in the Assembly on Tuesday.Congress members staged a dharna inside the House, shouting slogans and insisting that the VCK leader, Thol Thirumavalavan, be arrested.Trying to pacify the agitated Congressmen, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi said he did not subscribe to Thirumavalavan's views. But as for detaining him, he recalled a Supreme Court judgement in a case relating to the arrest of MDMK leader Vaiko under POTA, which said that mere verbal support to a banned organisation does not amount to a terrorist act.As Congress members continued sloganeering, Karunanidhi assured them that if necessary, he would even enact a legislation after consulting legal experts “to curb the activities of pro-LTTE groups in Tamil Nadu”. However, the Congress was unappeased and MLAs staged a walkout. AIADMK members had staged a walkout earlier.Congress legislator S Jayakumar said his party would not tolerate any support to the LTTE, “which assassinated our leader Rajiv Gandhimar.” The Government, he said, “should not keep its eyes closed” to the activities of LTTE supporters.He also claimed that VCK leader Thirumavalavan not only demanded lifting of the ban on the LTTE, but also made some remarks “insulting” the Congress. Another member claimed a portrait of LTTE leader Prabhakaran was displayed during the meeting.
