Stay calm, action being taken: Stalin to DMK cadres

Citing disciplinary action taken by DMK president against M.K. Alagiri, party treasurer M.K.Stalin Wednesday appealed to party cadres to keep calm.

Stalin, who urged party cadres not to burn effigies of his elder brother Alagiri, said in a statement: "The party president (M. Karunanidhi) and general secretary (K. Anbazhagan) are taking well thought out proper action."

He said actions like burning of Alagiri effigies at this stage would affect the party's unity.

Stalin said such uncivilised actions cannot be accepted.

He said he does not want to make an issue out of Alagiri's comments as all those who are born have to die.

On Tuesday, DMK cadres burnt effigies of Alagiri after Karunanidhi told the media that the former has been nurturing unknown hatred against Stalin for a long time.

Karunanidhi also said Alagiri shouted in anger that Stalin would die in three or four months when they met Jan 24 morning.

Karunanidhi said as a party leader he cannot tolerate any member predicting the death of another.

Later that day Alagiri denied the charge.

On Jan 24, the DMK temporarily suspended Alagiri for creating confusion in the party ranks and criticising the disciplinary action taken against some colleagues for "anti-party activities".

Alagiri, 62 a Lok Sabha member and son of Karunanidhi, 89, is opposed to his brother Stalin, 60, being elected to the party's top post.