Congress warns MDMK against spreading "misgivings"

New Delhi, Dec 28 (UNI) The Congress Party today came to the aid of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi in the ongoing war of attrition between the ruling DMK and the MDMK in the state, saying that no "misgivings" can deter the ruling coalition and its strength.

Congress Working Committee member in charge of Tamil Nadu Veerappa Moily today dismissed as "incorrect" the claim of MDMK supremo Vaiko that he (Vaiko) had received messages from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi saying that "breaking a political party and caputring its head office is an unbearable and uncivilised act." Mr Vaiko claimed in an interview to a Tamil bi-weekly magazine that the reaction of Mr Singh and Ms Gandhi was in response to his letter faxed to them, complaining that Mr Karunanidhi was planning to capture the MDMK headquarters 'Thayagam' in Chennai by unethical designs and violence.

In a statement here today, Mr Moily also denied the claim of Mr Vaiko that Ms Gandhi had issued an immediate warning to Mr Karunanidhi because of which the attack on himself and his party head office was averted.

In a clear expression of its support to the DMK, Mr Moily said "The Congress Party reiterates the fact that the alliance of DPA under the leadership of Dr Kalignar Karunanidhi, the Chief Minister of Tamil nadu, is strong and no misgivings can deter the DPA and its strength." The MDMK is not a partner of the ruling Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) in which the DMK and the Congress are the prominent constituents in Tamil Nadu. However, both the DMK and the MDMK are the partners of the ruling Congress-led UPA coalition at the centre.

The DMK has been demanding the expulsion of the MDMK from the UPA for joining hands with the ADMK and fighting against the DMK in the assembly elections last year.

UNI SH VD HT1810