Chennai, April 08: Jayalalithaa and Chief Minister M
Karunanidhi on Tuesday crossed swords over Tamil Nadu putting on
hold the Hogenakkal water project with the AIADMK supremo
alleging the DMK leader was expecting a cabinet berth for his
daughter MP Kanimozhi prompting him to take the decision.
The former Chief Minister also said Karunanidhi had
betrayed the interests of the state and demanded his
resignation.
But Karunanidhi refuted the charge asserting there was no
link between the project being halted and the possibility of
Kanimozhi getting a berth and wondered whether anybody in
Karnataka has powers to induct her into the Union Cabinet.
Despite strong speculation, Kanimozhi, a Rajya Sabha MP, did
not get a ministerial slot.
"I am a Tamil and interested in protecting Tamils
everywhere. Normally elections should be held without any
violence. But when the seeds of violence have been sown,
elections in Karnataka will not be peaceful. Only to avoid
this did I announce my decision", he said.
Jayalalithaa, who staged a walkout of the assembly today
along with party members, after being denied permission by
the Speaker R Avudaiyappan to move a special adjournment
motion on Hogenakkal, told reporters later that the project
was put on hold by Karunanidhi, expecting a ministerial berth
for Kanimozhi in the April 6 Union Cabinet expansion.
"We are not bothered whether she gets a minister's post or
not; we are more concerned about the drinking water needs of
the people of two districts (Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri) where
people are suffering from fluorosis due to consumption of
water mixed with high levels of flouride," she said.
Jayalalithha said that Karunanidhi had "failed" the people
of the state by putting on hold the project, leading to "shock
and anger" in Tamil Nadu.
"Even persons in Chennai, who are not beneficiaries of the project, are staging demonstrations in support of the project, asserting the state's right to it," she said.
"There is a need for a government with a strong political
will, which this government does not possess," she said and
called for the resignation of Karunanidhi.
She criticised Karunanidhi for his "unilateral" statement
putting the project on hold, even as the assembly session was
on." "He wanted the support of all parties to move resolutions
on mar 27 and April 1, but did not convene a cabinet meeting
or consult other parties, she said.
On Jayalalithaa's accusation that he had betrayed the
state's interests on the issue, Karunanidhi said 'it is funny
that a leader of a party, thriving on betrayal is levelling
the charge. It makes me think whether the betrayal is another
form of politics,' he said.
On state units of national parties taking opposite views on
the project, he said 'I had already stated that national
parties ruling in different states should not take (divergent)
stands, which would hinder national unity and integrity.
On Karnataka BJP leader B S Yedyurappa's charge that his
decision to put the scheme on hold was a conspiracy by the
Congress for electoral gains, Karunanidhi said it was not
true.
Bureau Report