Union Industry and Commerce Minister Murasoli Marantoday said the Karunanidhi arrest episode was part of a "suspectedconspiracy" to eliminate the DMK President and himself and said the "extraordinarysituation" in Tamil Nadu warranted imposition of President's Rule.
"I think it is an overall conspiracy to eliminateour leader Karunanidhi. They did not want me as a witness to their act andwanted to kill me also. This is my suspicion," he told reporters here afterbeing discharged from hospital.
Maran was allegedly assaulted by police when they wentto arrest Karunanidhi in the wee hours of Saturday. Later he was admitted toApollo Hospital, where he was arrested on the charge of obstructing policemen onduty and remanded to custody.
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The Minister said an "extraordinary"situation was prevailing in the state and therefore "extraordinary"remedy in the form of invoking President's rule should be considered.
He said though there was no change in his party's standagainst the use of Article 356, "it is an extraordinary situation requiringextraordinary remedy". The swearing in of AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalitha asChief Minister despite being disqualified to contest polls was another exampleof violation of the Constitution, he said.
On the police charge that it was he who had hit thepolicemen, Maran said "I did not hit anybody. I was struggling for my life.
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Asked about the next course of action, Maran said hewould consult his advocates whether action could be initiated against policeofficers who had "attacked and assulted" him.
He said as a citizen of the country, he was entitled tobasic human and fundamental rights. Besides, he was the representative of thepeople and a Union Minister.
On the reported remarks of state Minister M.Thambidurai that if need arose even the Prime Minister could be arrested, Maransaid "It is a threat and an insult to the one billion population of thecountry."
On his health, he said he was feeling better now. Maransaid he received blows just above the place where the pacemaker had beenimplanted. "That is why I fainted."
Asked whether he was satisfied with the Centre's actionin the aftermath of Karunanidhi's arrest, he said it was not a question ofsatisfation. "The Centre was moving step by step. It had not followed thefootsteps of thoughtless action of the previous (Congress) regimes which usedArt 356 over 100 times."
On the Centre's decision to give a warning to the TamilNadu Government, he said it was only a first step. "But I have my own fearswhether the state government will understand this kind of language', he said.
The Minister also said his arrest and the policeassault on him would have a negative impact on the investors, affecting foreigninvestment in the country.
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'If the investors see a federal Commerce Minister beingassaulted by state police and arrested, it will affect the investment flow intoIndia,' he said after calling on DMK President M. Karunanidhi.
Maran said as a Union Minister he was able to bring inmillions of dollars of foreign investment.
PTI
