Stalin says CBI's move on Chidambaram 'insult to India'

DMK President M K Stalin on Thursday lashed out at CBI officials for scaling the walls of Congress leader P Chidambaram's bungalow at Delhi on Wedesday to gain entry, saying he considered it as an "insult to India".

Stalin, whose DMK is an ally of the Congress, backed Chidambaram, reiterating his charge of "political vendetta" behind the former Union Minister's arrest. "I saw on TV, the CBI officers scaling the walls (at Chidambaram's Delhi residence).

I consider it as an insult to India. It is condemnable," he told reporters here. On Wednesday, a CBI team had first knocked at the gates of Chidambaram's Jor Bagh residence to gain entry, but finding no response, had scaled the nearly five-ft high walls to get inside.

Once three officers reached inside, they opened the gates to allow entry to other team members waiting outside.

Responding to a query on CBI's handling of the entire Chidambaram episode, Stalin recalled that he had already dubbed it as "political vendetta" on Wednesday. He said Chidambaram had appeared before the agencies concerned earlier when summoned by them in connection with the case.

Stalin also pointed out that the Supreme Court has decided to hear on Friday the Congress leader's petition, seeking a stay of the Delhi High Court order that had dismissed his anticipatory bail plea. "His arrest which has happened in the meantime has an intention of political vendetta," Stalin added.

Referring to the protest in Delhi over the Kashmir issue on Thursday, he said the struggle "led by the DMK" and attended by various political parties, including Congress, TMC, CPI(M) and NC, was a "success."

Restoration of normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir post abrogation of Art 370 of the Constitution, resumption of telecommunication services in the Valley and immediate release of all political leaders detained were the key demands made at the protest in the national capital, Stalin said.