Setting at rest speculation about an imminent realignment of political forces, AICC general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad on Tuesday called on DMK supremo M. Karunanidhi, who was in New Delhi to meet daughter Kanimozhi, now in jail as an accused in the 2G scam.
Mr Azad, after a 30-minute meeting with the DMK chief, told reporters that the Congress sympathised with him over his daughter being in jail but said the government could not do anything as it could not interfere with the processes of the law. “Our leader Sonia Gandhi is concerned as Kanimozhi, being a woman, is in jail, and it is a matter of concern. But the fact is one cannot do anything.”
Mr Azad also dismissed concerns that the Congress’ ties with the DMK would be affected by these developments, saying that “all these goings-on” had not impacted relations and that “in future too there would be no effect whatsoever”.
This, incidentally, is the DMK chief’s first visit to New Delhi in seven years in which he will not be meeting the Congress president.
Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan and Union minister Farooq Abdullah met Mr Karunanidhi on Tuesday. Ms Natarajan described it as a courtesy call.
Also, DMK ministers Dayanidhi Maran and Alagiri, as well as Alagiri’s wife Kanthi and son Durai Dayanidhi, met Ms Kanimozhi in the jail on Tuesday evening.
DMK heir apparent M.K. Stalin met Ms Kanimozhi at the special CBI court and enquired about her well-being. Mr Stalin, who reached the court at exactly 10 am accompanied by a host of party MPs, had to wait a while for his step-sister, who arrived only at 10.30 am. The meeting was devoid of any emotional outburst as the siblings came face-to-face. Mr Stalin also enquired from former communications minister A. Raja about his health. Kalaignar TV managing director Sharad Kumar told Mr Stalin that life in jail was very difficult. Mr Stalin spent about 50 minutes with them discussing details of the case and also conditions in the jail.