SC warns of President’s Rule for MK’s defiance

New Delhi: The DMK government in Tamil Nadu could be in trouble for going ahead with its agitation on the Sethusamudram project despite the Supreme Court ban.

The apex court has asked the Centre what prompts it to shy away from imposing President’s Rule. "If this is the attitude of the DMK, the UPA government should not feel shy of dismissing it and imposing President’s Rule," the Court said in a statement.

"If there is no compliance with our order, it is complete breakdown of Constitutional machinery. We will then have to direct the government to impose President’s rule," a bench headed by acting Chief Justice B N Aggarwal and Justice P Sathasivam said.

The Supreme court’s poser to Centre came after the AIADMK filed another petition accusing the DMK of violating its orders. The court has warned the state government of inmitiating contempt proceedings

The Bench – in reply to a petition filed by AIADMK – also said if the state government does not comply with its order, it would not hesitate to summon the Chief Secretary.

"You can file a contempt petition," the Bench said..

The DMK counsel told the court that only party leaders are sitting on fast and only some unions are involved in such activities.

A day after the apex court described the bandh as illegal, a defiant Karunanidhi called for a statewide, voluntary hunger strike.

The DMK-affiliated state trade union immediately followed the order and went on a flash strike hitting normal life in state capital Chennai.

Karunanidhi reacts

Karunanidhi said his party and the DPA had complied with the directions of the Madras High Court when it declined to stay the bandh call in the state.

Addressing a gathering in front of the venue of the fast, called for demanding speedy completion of Sethusamudram project, he said, "When we were making arrangements to observe a bandh after complying with the court’s directives, the Supreme Court stayed it. We decided to observe a peaceful fast to express our feelings. We cannot be stopped from expressing our opinion," he said.

"We will abide by the courts, as we are law abiding citizens," he said without mentioning the strictures passed by the Supreme Court earlier in the day.

He said the name of Lord Ram was being ‘unnecessarily dragged in’ by some parties to stall the project.

Source: CNN-IBN

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