'Chidambaram's arrest by CBI scaling walls an insult' says MK Stalin

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 Wednesday 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 an insult to India. It is condemnable," he told reporters in Chennai. "His arrest which has happened in the meantime has an intention of political vendetta," Stalin added.

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Stalin slams Chidambaram arrest

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. He condemned Chidambaram's arrest as a blot on democracy.

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Chidambaram's dramatic arrest

Earlier on Wednesday, after being untraceable for almost 27 hours, the Congress senior leader P. Chidambaram made a surprise arrival at the Congress head office to address a press brief. Following which he reached his residence, wherein the CBI and ED officials were present to question the Parliamentarian. However, they were blocked by the Congress leader to enter his house. They were then forced to scale walls to detain Chidambaram. He was then taken to the CBI headquarters where he was kept in the night. He was produced in court on Thursday. The Court has ordered him to return back to CBI custody till August 26. 

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Stalin on Kashmir issue

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." He had demanded the restoration of normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir post abrogation of Art 370 of the Constitution. His other demand was the resumption of telecommunication services in the Valley and immediate release of all political leaders detained. He had condemned the arrest of J&K leaders while the abrogation of the article was debated in Parliament. He had announced a protest immediately after the passage of the bill.