New Delhi, May 04: Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi called on Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh separately on Monday to discuss the 2G spectrum scam. He is learnt to have apprised them about the “politics” behind the 2G controversy involving DMK leader and Union telecom minister A. Raja.
After her talks with the DMK supremo, Sonia had a meeting with the Prime Minister at his office in Parliament. Party sources said she is likely to have briefed Singh about her reading of Karunanidhi’s mind. Talking to reporters after the meetings, Karunanidhi backed Raja to the hilt.
The DMK supremo said Raja comes from a Dalit family and hence, certain sections were “spreading canards” against him. On a day when Karunanidhi met the UPA brass, the Opposition parties and DMK’s political rival AIADMK in particular, upped the ante and forced adjournment of the Lok Sabha thrice and the Rajya Sabha twice demanding Raja’s removal.
The Congress, finding itself in a bind, because of the compulsions of coalition politics, trashed charges against Raja saying that there was “no concrete” evidence against him as of now. Party sources said that the CBI is investigating the charges which are before the Supreme Court and hence, are sub judice. “These are in the nature of allegations… There is nothing in the realm of proof or credible evidence,” party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said. He also dismissed suggestions that the government was shielding Raja.
Accusing the BJP of practising double standards and hypocrisy, Singhvi alleged that the Opposition was setting one standard in Delhi and another in Karnataka. He also named five ministers of the BJP government in Karnataka for their involvement in “corruption, murder, fraud and criminal intimidation.”
The DMK leader in the Lok Sabha, T. R. Baalu, textiles minister Dayanidhi Maran and Kanimozhi accompanied Karunanidhi to 10, Janpath. But they were not part of the one- to- one talks.
Karunanidhi was closeted with the Congress president for 30 minutes. Sonia took the opportunity to discuss the contentious women’s reservation Bill awaiting the nod in the Lok Sabha.
The DMK, which was earlier opposed to the Bill in its present form, later supported it when it was passed by the Rajya Sabha in the winter session.
Karunanidhi also discussed the continued absence of his son and Union chemical and fertilisers minister M. K. Alagiri from Parliament and cabinet meetings for the last few months amid indications that Alagiri may quit the ministry and go back to Tamil Nadu to become the general secretary of the DMK. Sources said the chief minister is not keen on Alagiri returning to Tamil Nadu politics as it may trigger a clash between him and his brother, M. K. Stalin.
Karunanidhi’s younger son and deputy chief minister Stalin and Alagiri do not get along well.
Sources said in the event of Alagiri shifting base to Madurai, his home turf, Karunanidhi may seek two minister of state posts for the party.
This is interpreted in political circles as the DMK chief’s reluctance to nominate his daughter and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi for a cabinet berth.
SEEKING HELP
DMK supremo sought the Prime Minister’s intervention in getting slain LTTE chief Prabakaran’s mother treated in India.
Parvathy Ammal ( 81), who is suffering from paralysis, was recently denied entry to India. She then wrote a letter to Karunanidhi seeking his help in getting herself treated in the country.
“ I have told the Prime Minister that she ( Ammal) should be allowed to come if she is willing to get treatment in hospitals that we choose. We will give her security and the government will also bear the cost of her treatment,” Karunanidhi said after his meeting with the PM. Stalin, meanwhile, told the assembly that the government had also written to the home secretary seeking permission for Ammal to enter India.
—Agencies