Wednesday, December 21 2005 15:14 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: Charging the AIADMK government with 'politicising' flood relief distribution, the DMK today (Dec 21, 2005) condemned the arrest of a DMK Corporation councilor on charges of spreading rumours, leading to a stampede in which 42 people died on December 18.

DMK President M Karunanidhi told reporters here that the arrest was only to cover up the inefficiency of the administration in arranging proper distribution of flood relief, which led to the stampede.

If an arrest had to be made for spreading rumours, it should be the AIADMK's 130th division secretary Bhaskaran, who announced through a public address system that relief material would be distributed early that day, he said

Politicising the issue only exposed the AIADMK government's 'irresponsible' and 'uncivilised nature', he said.

The DMK would hold a public meeting here on December 25,in which leaders of DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance would participate to condemn the 'vengeful' attitude of the AIADMK government against the opposition, he said.

The next course of action would be decided at the public meeting, he said.

The party would also organise a one-day token fast all over the state on December 27, he said.

Karunanidhi said DPA MPs would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh or union home minister Shivraj Patil at Delhi today to complain about certain derogatory remarks of the City Police Commissioner R Natarajan here against DMK workers.