Pudukkottai: Taking strong objections to the Union Government extending the ban on the Sri Lankan Tamil militant outfit LTTE for another five years, the MDMK general secretary Mr. Vaiko said such extension was not based on legal evidence (Aatharamattra Neetippu) and hence the ban "is illegal".
Speaking to newsmen here on Tuesday, he defended actor-turned-politician Kamal Hassan's remark that the first terrorist in Independent India was a 'Hindu' and that his name was Nathuram Godse. It is not a wrong view, said Vaiko.
Expressing the hope that the DMK-led alliance would sweep the Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu, Vaiko said he expected a major political change both at the Centre and in Tamil Nadu after May 23 when the counting of votes will be taken up.
Mr. Vaiko also took strong exception to the raids conducted by the flying squads at the resort where the DMK president M K Stalin stayed at Toothukudi and said this was yet another evidence that the Election Commission of India was acting at the behest of the Centre.
Referring to Monday's meeting between Mr. Stalin and Telangana Chief Minister Mr. K Chandrasekhar Rao in Chennai, Vaiko said this meeting will not result in a political change. On the other hand, Mr. Stalin had explained the DMK's stand to the TRS leader, he added.
The MDMK leader also expressed his displeasure at Governor Banwarilal Purohit not acting on the file to release the seven convicts in the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.
