Minister has to be congratulated, MK owes explanation: Jaya

Chennai, May 15 (UNI) AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa today said Tamil Nadu Social Welfare Minister Dr Poongothai deserved to be congratulated for resigning after she was caught in a phone tapping issue, but Chief Minister M Karunanidhi owed an explanation for the entire phone tapping controversy.

Congratulating the Minister for her self-respect, Ms Jayalalithaa in a statement here said if Dr Poongothai had to resign for trying to influence a senior police official, then the Chief Secretary should also resign.

She said according to media reports, the Chief Secretary also tried to influence the same police official and wondered why the phone tapping case, involving the Chief Secretary has been referred to a commission of inquiry, when the facts and proof were available for all to see.

If Dr Poongothai had to resign because she was caught red handed, another Minister K P P Samy, who along with his brother barged into a police station and freed rowdy elements from the lock up, should also resign, she said.

She said Union Minister T R Baalu's attempt to influence an official to grant favours to a company owned by his family members has been well established by the media. Not only has Mr Baalu refused to resign, but he has also claimed to have done it in public interest.

UNI WS AM RAI1840