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Journalism of Courage
CHENNAI, APRIL 11: Tamil Maanila Congress leader and Member of Parliament P Chidambaram today indicated that in the event of the Vajpayee Government collapsing, the TMC will not support the Congress in forming an alternative government at the Centre if the Congress chose to align with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam AIADMK.
Participating in a function to admit into former Tamil Nadu Congress Committee vice-president P Vallal Peruman and his followers, Chidambaram said, 8220;We want the BJP-led Government to go.8221; But it is equally important to ensure that the Vajpayee Government is compelled to leave in a transparent and equitable manner and an alternative government formed by the Congress through fair and just means, he said.
The TMC will not support any alternative dispensation at the Centre if the State8217;s interests are ignored, he said, adding G K Moopanar and his followers were forced to leave the Congress in 1996 under compelling circumstances to save Tamil Nadu8217;s self-respect. The TMC isbeing guided in its outlook by two prime factors: one, its commitment to secular values, and another, its opposition to 8220;corruption in public life, authoritarianism, and violent means for settling issues,8221; he said.
There was a challenge from 8220;corrupt forces8221; to the dignity and integrity of the political system in 1996, and the country is facing the same threat again in 1999, he said. He hoped the Congress will not commit its blunder of 1996 while the BJP will not repeat its blunder of 1998 in aligning with the AIADMK.
Chidambaram accused the AIADMK of 8220;making nonsense of politics.8221;
