DMK's Ministerial berths due to MDMK: Vaiko

Madurai, Apr 24 (UNI) Continuing his tirade against the DMK leadership, MDMK General Secretary Vaiko has reiterated the charge that the DMK had garnered ministerial berths at the Centre by including the MDMK in its tally of MPs.

Addressing an election meeting of the AIADMK-led Democratic People's Front(DPF) here last night, he expressed surprise at the DMK not responding to his charge so far.

The MDMK is extending outside support to the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance(UPA) Government.

Stating that neither the Congress High Command, nor the PMO had disputed his version, the firebrand leader questioned why the DMK leadership was maintaining a studied silence.

''Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told him this 'fact' and i got it clarified from Congress President Sonia Gandhi,'' he added.

Reacting to the defamation case filed against him by Union Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran of the DMK, he said the suit failed to address the issues he had raised.

Claiming that the DMK was increasingly becoming subservient to the interests of a single family, he coined a new term ''Family Imperialism.'' This had caused a lot of resentment among the committed DMK workers, he claimed.

Making it clear that he was not against any family becoming rich, Vaiko said the issue of political power being used to further the prospects of a family was his concern.

Media monopoly and political power concentrating in the hands a family was dangerous for the future of democracy, he added.

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