Chennai, May 12: Terrorism of any kind should be struck down with an iron hand, said state unit of the Congress, urging Tamil Nadu Government to ban organisations that support the proscribed LTTE. Speaking during the discussion on demand for grants for the Home Department in the Assembly on Monday, Congress floor leader D Sudarsanam said the state Government should ask the Centre to extend the ban on LTTE that was to expire soon.

“Terrorism, whether from within like the Left extremism or communalism and from outside like LTTE, should be dealt with an iron hand,” said Sudarsanam, adding that the outfits supporting the Tigers’ cause should also be banned. However, he did not name any political party or organisation during his speech.

Ever since Rajiv Gandhi assassination, the Congress party has been demanding strong action against LTTE and its supporters. Though vilified for their role in assassination, LTTE enjoys considerable support in Tamil Nadu, due to the Tamil bond that connects both. DPA partners PMK and VCK, and opposition MDMK are staunch and vocal supporters of the Tamil cause, and have come out in the open declaring support much to the chagrin of the Congress.

Interestingly, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, who also handles the Home portfolio, had in the recent past written a poem in DMK mouthpiece, Murasoli, eulogising a slain LTTE leader — despite Congress’ strong and stated position against LTTE, and DMK being a vital part of the Central government and alliance.

Opposition AIADMK took on the Government on Monday for the alleged breakdown of law and order in the state citing the case of a local body councillor being murdered in a bomb attack recently. Party members also raised the issue of police seizing materials used to manufacture bombs that were being sent to Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, taking a stern view on communal tensions, the Government has decided to imprison those inciting caste and communal clashes under the Goondas Act.