Tamil Nadu wants pro LTTE Union Minister sacked 

[September 23, 2003 - 10.00 GMT]

The Tamil Nadu government yesterday decided to take action against India’s Union Minister of State M Kannappan for openly supporting the banned LTTE. Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha has written to Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee asking for his immediate removal from the union cabinet. Kannappan is to be arrested and charged by Jayalalitha’s government. “Kannappan had committed an offence under POTA by supporting the banned LTTE”, said Jayalalitha said in her stern letter to the PM.

The Indian media reports say Jayalalitha would use POTA the Prevention of Terrorism Act against minister Kannappan, even if the PM chose not to dismiss him for political reasons.

Kannappan had during a book launch in Chennai, September 16, declared his party’s allegiance to the banned LTTE.

Kannappan described the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to invoke POTA against him as politically motivated. He said his party the MDMK never supported the LTTE’s ‘violent activities’ on Indian soil, “We are extending our moral support to the LTTE in their fight to safeguard Tamils in Sri Lanka.”

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Last Updated Date: September 23, 2003  -10.00 GMT.