The Hindu (Tamil Nadu) ·
Tamil Nadu Assembly records establish M.K. Stalin was a political prisoner under MISA during Emergency
Karunanidhi ensured key extracts from the prison diary of late MP Chittibabu made its way into the Assembly records.
Historical records of debates on the Justice Ismail Commission Report that took place in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly as well as Legislative Council (since abolished) in 1978 reinforce that former Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin was indeed a political detenu under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) during the Emergency.
The Commission headed by then Madras High Court judge M.M. Ismail was set up during the President’s Rule in May 1977. The Commission was mandated to conduct an inquiry into the incidents of beating and ill-treatment alleged to have taken place in the Central Prison, Madras, during February 1976 to February 1977.
As many as 88 prisoners were detained at the Madras Central Prison under the MISA. Prominent among them were Mr. Stalin, Dravidar Kazhagam leader K. Veeramani, former MLA Arcot N. Veerasamy (later Minister), DMK leader Murasoli Maran, and then MP Chittibabu.
