DMK reeks of double standards, says CM

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Chief minister J. Jayalalithaa lashed out at DMK chief M. Karunanidhi accusing him of adopting “double standards” on a range of issues including Cauvery, Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project, diesel price hike and FDI in multi-brand retail trade, and charged him of “betraying” state’s interests.

“DMK president M. Karunanidhi has once again proved that he is adopting a dual stand on these key issues.

His remarks that his party upheld ‘coalition dharma’ meant he supported the Centre’s decision to allow FDI in retail,” she said criticising Mr Karunanidhi who had taken a dig at her on the Cauvery and KKNP issues.

In a hard-hitting statement Ms Jayalalithaa said Mr Karunanidhi, who had demanded rollback of the recent diesel price hike, should explain whether his son and Union minister M. K. Alagiri opposed the decision to hike diesel prices at a meeting of Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA).

Joining issue with him, the AIADMK supremo sought to know from Mr Karunanidhi if Mr Alagiri gave his consent to the diesel price hike or kept away from the meeting.

On his recent remarks after Trinamul Congress pulled out of UPA over the implementation of FDI and diesel price hike, Ms Jayalalithaa said, “he had said DMK does not pull out in haste and only does if there is an ideological difference and that it upholds coalition dharma. In saying so, he has clarified that he supports Centre’s decision on FDI.”

Despite supporting the September 20 bandh, the DMK “maintained silence that day.” He claimed that thousands of shops downed shutters in a bid to “create an image” as though DMK took part in the protest, she charged.

Accusing Mr Karunanidhi of betraying the state’s interests on Cauvery issue, she said despite being in power both in the state and Centre, he had not taken any steps to convene the Cauvery River Authority Meeting (CRA).

On his charge that Tamil Nadu should have accepted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s offer directing Karnataka to release 9,000 cusecs water and should have demanded more, Ms Jayalalithaa said the former chief minister was trying to mislead the people by giving an impression that she had not handled the issue properly.

Her government will ensure justice for Tamil Nadu farmers on the Cauvery water issue through the Supreme Court, she added.