Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

The snake that won't even hiss

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI April 14. The DMK president, M. Karunanidhi, today likening Article 356 of the Constitution to a snake, said ``it had forgotten even to hiss.''

In a democracy even if a party had a brute majority it was not necessary to let that party govern the full term if the regime was anti-people. Article 356 was a way out. ``We say that this snake (Article 356) should not strike. But unfortunately, the snake has even forgotten to hiss.''

Responding to an observation by the BJP general secretary, L. Ganesan, that it was wrong to have arrested the former Chennai Mayor, M.K. Stalin, and that the Union Government would intervene when the law and order situation in the State got out of control, Mr. Karunanidhi said only if there was law and order could one talk about a situation when it deteriorated.

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