Vaiko appeals to PM to drop Maran from cabinet

Chennai, Apr 29 (UNI) MDMK General Secretary Vaiko has petitioned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to sack Union Communication Minister Dayanidhi Maran from the Ministry in the wake of reports that he threatened the Tata Group to part with 33 per cent stake in the Tata-Star TV Direct-To-Home project.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, a copy of which was circulated to the media here, Mr Vaiko claimed that based on reliable information, he came to know that Mr Maran, with the view of promoting his family business, had made abortive bids to acquire 33 per cent stake in the DTH project through coercive means.

The saddest part was that Mr Maran and his brother Kalanidhi Maran wanted Tata to part with the share at a heavily subsidised rate compared to the prevailing market price, he charged.

When Tata made it clear that the group had no intention of selling its share, Mr Maran even went to the extent of threatening Group Chairman Ratan Tata that his telecom business would be finished off if he did not fall in line, Mr Vaiko claimed.

''Such blatant misuse of power by a Cabinet Minister that too against Tatas, one of the most respected and ethically upright industrial groups in the country, is unprecedented in the history of Independent India,'' he said.

The MDMK leader said his statements had been ''proved to be true by an independent investigation carried out by the New Indian Express, a newspaper known for its objectivity and courageous reporting for decades.'' MORE UNI AKN SB KN1631