Chennai: DMK president M Karunanidhi has shot off a letter to the President and Prime Minister of India, seeking military intervention to protect law and order and ensure public peace in Tamil Nadu in the wake of violent repercussions felt across the state following AIADMK general secretary J. Jayalalithaa’s conviction in the disproportionate assets case on Saturday.
Meticulously avoiding any comment on the verdict, in his letter (as well as elsewhere) circulated to the media, Karunanidhi said, “AIADMK cadres are indulging in large scale violence and the police are silent spectators to these lawless acts of their party men. The police in the state are not in a position to handle the situation and the people in Tamil Nadu are living in the grip of fear.
There is a complete breakdown of the constitutional machinery in the state. Unless stringent measures are taken immediately by the state police and military administration, we fear for the safety of the people in Tamil Nadu.
If the present situation is allowed to continue, the state may witness a worsening of the law and order situation, which will be a grave threat to the citizens’ life and property,” he said Apart from targeting DMK leaders and BJP leader Subramaniam Swamy’s Chennai residence, they (AIADMK cadres) were also attacking innocent citizens and destroying public property to instill fear and panic in the minds of the public, he alleged, imploring the President among others to “intervene and take appropriate measures forthwith to restore law and order and ensure public peace, tranquillity and safety to citizens.
The five-time CM also requested the President to take action against erring police officials who were hand in glove with the AIADMK cadres in perpetuating the violence.
