DMK, MDMK leaders meet PM

New Delhi, Dec 28 (UNI) Union Minister and DMK leader T R Baalu and MDMK leader Vaiko Gopalaswamy today met Prime Minister Mamohan Singh separately in the context of the running public spat between the two parties in Tamil Nadu.

Mr Baalu handed over a letter, conveying the party's anguish over the dragging of the name of Dr Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gadhi by the MDMK supremo in his war of attrition with the DMK.

The DMK and the MDMK are among the constituents of the multi-party UPA, though the former has been demanding the expulsion of the latter from the ruling coalition for having joined hands with the AIADMK led by J Jayalalithaa in the assembly elections held in the state last year.

A release issued by Mr Baalu's office said Dr Singh asked the Union Minister to convey to Mr Karunanidhi that he had high regard for him and that the PMO had not made any adverse comments on either the role of the Tamil Nadu Government or Mr Karunanidhi.

What prompted Mr Baalu to meet Dr Singh was the claim of Mr Vaiko that Dr Singh and Ms Gandhi made critical comments about Mr Karunanidhi's alleged attempt to create problems in the MDMK.

Mr Vaiko also met Dr Singh today even as his party sources claimed that he was closetted with the Prime Minister for nearly 30 minutes.

The DMK letter accused Mr Vaiko of attempting to drag Dr Singh and Ms Gandhi into unnecessary controversy for gaining cheap popularity.

"Mr Vaiko also tried to cast aspersions on DMK President and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi by aleging he was planning to capture the MDMK headquarters Thayagam by unethical designs and violence." Referring to the allegation of Mr Vaiko that Mr Karunanidhi had planned to disrupt the party's high-level meeting held in Chennai on December 25, the letter said the Chief Minister carefully assessed the law and order situation and provided adequate police protection for its peaceful conduct.

Mr Baalu pointed out that the DMK had already filed a legal suit against Mr Vaiko for maligning the image of Mr Karunanidhi.

A release issued by the MDMK did not say what Mr Vaiko discussed with Dr Singh. It, however, said he informed the Prime Minister about his plan to visit Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee, who has been on an over the singur issue.

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