"MK lying and misleading" in Chikungunya issue: Jaya, Vaiko

Madurai, Oct 7 (UNI) Terming as ''blatant lie'' Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's assertion that there was not even a single death in Tamil Nadu due to Chikungunya, AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa has alleged that this stand had cost the State, Central assistance, which the neighbouring Kerala had been assured of to combat the disease.

Besides lying, the Chief Minister was also misleading the public on the prevalence of the dreaded infectious disease which had thus far claimed 289 lives, she charged, while addressing a joint election meeting with MDMK General Secretary Vaiko and other constituents of the AIADMK-led alliance, in the city tonight.

While she accused the DMK chief of indulging in self delusion, Vaiko echoing similar views, challenged the Government to come out with a White Paper on the issue and give up harassment of the victim's families.

Ms Jayalalithaa said the Chief Minister, unlike his Kerala counterpart, who had countered Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss and shot off a letter to the Prime Minister, remained content with simply ''parroting the lie'' that there was no incidence of the disease.

In contrast, Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanadan, instead of blaming the previous Government, had planned a Rs one crore programme and Mr Anbumani, too, had to retract his words and rush to that state, it was pointed out.

An ostrich like attitude of Mr Karunanidhi had allowed the disease to assume epidemic proportion and left the affected people to fend for themselves, she said and asked how long the truth, known to all, could be kept under a veil of secrecy.

The AIADMK supremo further charged the Chief Minister with attempting to discredit her with a ''new-found weapon,'' namely, stagnant files. Countering Mr Karunanidhi, she said this was another orchestrated campaign.

UNI CR KVV DKS RAI0056 -