CHENNAI, July 31: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, today warned that his government would take stern action against the ``anti-nationals'' who had threatened to observe the Independence day, August 15, as `black day'.

The chief minister told reporters here that though the parties had the right to observe the August 15 as a `black day', the government would not tolerate ``anti-national'' activities and inciting of violence on that pretext.

The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and some other organisations had announced that they would observe the day as a `black day'.

Karunanidhi said he had received reports that speakers at public meetings, organised by some parties which wanted a separate Tamil Nadu, had asked the people to damage rail tracks to disrupt movement of trains. The government would not tolerate this type of violence and action would be taken against them, he added. On the Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam's threat to place the statues of social reformer, late Periyar E V Ramasamy, wherever the Hindu Munnani kept Vinayaka idols in the city during the forthcoming Ganesh Chathurthi festival, Karunandihi said his government would not allow any violence on account of this.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.