Jaya's gold offer draws flak

Tiruchirapalli, May 2 (UNI) The Congress today criticised Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa for offering free gold to daughters of farmers covered under the Farmers Protection Scheme and to girls from BPL families for their marriages.

Talking to newspersons here, Senior Congress Leader and Union Minister of State for Textiles E V K S Elangovan said the offer stemmed from Ms Jayalalithaa's fear of losing power in the May eight Assembly elections in the state.

Ruling out the possibility of a coalition, he said the Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) will sweep the elections and the DMK will form a government on its own.

On allegations against Union Communications Minister Dayanidhi Minister on the Tata DTH venture, he said the Tata Group had not given any categorical reply on the issue.

He recalled that Mr Maran himself had given an explanation. Even DMK Chief M Karunanidhi had announced he would take action against the Minister if the allegations were proved to be true.

Mr Elangovan also added the allegations were made only for political gains.

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