Karunanidhi hits back at Jayalalitha

Karunanidhi hits back at Jayalalitha

CHENNAI, Feb 23: Hitting back at AIADMK chief J. Jayalalithaa for slamming the DMK on its decision to boycott the Supreme Court appointed committee on Mullaperiyar dam issue, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Tuesday said opposition parties were only “countering” whatever the ruling party did.

In a write-up in party mouthpiece Murasoli, Mr. Karunanidhi, without naming her, said “they had prepared a statement slamming the DMK in anticipation that it will ask the government to appoint its representative in the committee.”

“But they later changed everything and prepared a statement afresh after DMK resolved against nominating Tamil Nadu’s representative to the committee,” he said, adding opposition parties were doing such things “only to counter” whatever the ruling DMK did.

Reacting to the DMK General Council’s decision, Ms. Jayalalithaa had criticised Mr. Karunanidhi, saying the state’s absence in the committee may favour Kerala and demanded nominating a member to the Supreme Court constituted committee.

On the Parliament budget session, Mr. Karunanidhi welcomed appeals by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Speaker Meira Kumar for smooth conduct of the House. He said the opposition parties’ decision to stall proceedings will do no good to democracy, and those watching (the acrimonious scenes) on TV “may lose confidence in democracy”. (PTI)