Jaya warns of defamation suit against Karunanidhi

Chennai, July 31: The political stand-off between the ruling DMK and the Opposition AIADMK over the shelved titanium project reached a flash point today, with AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa threatening to file civil and criminal suits against Chief Minister M Karunanidhi for his 'defamatory statements' against her.

In a statement here, she stoutly denied the Chief Minister's charge that she had entered into an unannounced agreement with a local gangster for mining precious mineral 'garnet' at Sattankulam, where the Rs 2,500 crore project was to have come up, and pointed out that all the political parties, including the constituents of the DMK-led DPA, were expressing opposition to the project.

Taking a dig at Mr Karunanidhi for accusing her of protecting the interests of an individual by announcing a protest against the project, Ms Jayalalithaa said Garnet, being a major mineral, came under the direct control of the Union Mines Ministry.

''Any wrong doings or illegal extraction in the sector would be dealt with according to the laws and regulations,'' she added.

UNI