Expedite Prabhakaran's arrest - Congress MLA

'Several political parties unfaithful to India'

By our political correspondent

The Congress Legislative Member of the Tamil Nadu State Assembly L. A. Gnanasekaran has called upon the Tamil Nadu Government to expedite the process of arresting the LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran who is a prime suspect in the assassination of former Indian Premier Rajiv Gandhi.

Gnanasekaran addressing the Tamil Nadu State Assembly meeting on Wednesday highlighted the dangers due to the LTTE infiltration in the State. "The Congress party is for a durable political solution for the Lankan crisis. However, the LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran,the prime suspect in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi cannot be pardoned and he should be produced before the Courts.

All efforts to arrest Prabhakaran must be expedited without any hesitation," Gnanasekaran said.

Warning the State Government on the grave dangers due to the LTTE infiltration and its gun running activities the MLA pointed out that 102 LTTE cadres have infiltrated into Tamil Nadu in the past two years and forty of them have been apprehended by the police.

"The American intelligence agency FBI issued an early warning to India on the attempt on Rajiv Gandhi's life.

The FBI also warned Pakistan on the dangers faced by Benazir Bhutto.

But neither India nor Pakistan took seriously the FBI warning. Several political parties remain unfaithful to India by supporting the LTTE. They openly say that they support the Tamil cause in Sri Lanka but whereas they are behind the covert activities of the LTTE in Tamil Nadu," the MLA said.

Peter Alponse, another Congress MLA of the State Assembly speaking on India supporting Sri Lanka militarily said that as a key member in the SAARC India has every right to assist Sri Lanka militarily.

Hence this assistance should not be interpreted as India aiding the country to go for war. Meanwhile, the State of Tamil Nadu was put under a stiff security blanket to prevent any untoward incident on the Indian Republic day yesterday.

The Tamil Nadu police has also been warned by the Indian intelligence agencies that the LTTE cadres who suffered injuries in the ongoing military offensive in Mannar and other areas in the North and East would be shipped to Tamil Nadu.