Prabhakaran could be behind LTTE ex-political head's death: TN leader

A senior Congress leader in Tamil Nadu on Friday alleged that Liberation Ttigers of Tamil Eelam supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran could be responsible for the recent killing of the outfit's political wing leader S P Tamilselvan in a Sri Lankan Air Force raid.

Former Union minister S R Balasubramaniam told a press conference in Chennai that Tamilselvan was provided security by Prabakaran on par with the LTTE chief himself.

The slain leader's movements were kept secret. Under such a circumstance, how could Sri Lankan military know about Tamilselvan's arrival at a particular spot, he asked.

Tamilselvan's visit to the spot was deliberately leaked out, leading to his killing in the air raid, he alleged.

He said the Congress never endorsed any support to the LTTE in Tamil Nadu and would vehmently oppose any backing to the banned terrorist organisation.

He regretted that the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi penned a poem condoling the death of Tamilselvan.

The poem ended up creating a major controversy as All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader Jayalalithaa demanded dismissal of the DMK government for eulogising the leader of a banned outfit.

Referring to a recent directive issued by the state police chief warning action against those supporting banned oufits, Balasubramaniam said he welcomes the police action against the pro-LTTE elements in Tamil Nadu.

On the controversy over the Malaysian Minister Nazim Aziz's critisism of Karunanidhi for writing to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking immediate and appropriate action to end the alleged crackdown on Tamils in that country, Balasubramaniam said Aziz's comments were "unfortunate".

He said it is wrong on the part of Aziz to make comments on an elected chief minister of a state of another country.

Karunanidhi had only done his duty, he added. The Tamil Nadu Congress leader also opposed the move by the Union Health Minister and Pattali Makkal Katchi leader Anbumani Ramadoss to extend the duration of the MBBS course by one year. The medicos in Tamil Nadu are currently agitating against the proposal.