Prez poll: Congress attacks Jaya; seeks apology

Chennai, June 19: AICC Secretary Shantaram Naik today took strong exception to AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa's criticism that choosing Ms Prathiba Patil as the Congress-led UPA's candidate for the Presidential election was a great joke played on the nation by Congress President Sonia Gandhi, and demanded an open apology.

Mr Naik, incharge of party affairs in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Lakshadweep, told newspersons here that by criticising Ms Patil, Ms Jayalalithaa had insulted the entire womenfolk and denigrated women in the eyes of the public. Besides, she had also defamed the Governor's post as Ms Patil was still the Rajasthan Governor.

Referring to the formation of UNPA, Mr Naik said it was an association without any leadership and ridiculed the UNPA's decision to support President A P J Abdul Kalam for a second term. The UNPA's ultimate objective was not to fight the Presidential election, but to create confusion, he claimed.

The Congress leader, who was here for Rahul Gandhi's birthday celebrations, said Ms Jayalalithaa indirectly attempted to have truck with the BJP and she would face the consequences in the state soon.

UNI