Tamil Nadu: MK welcomes PMK decision

Chennai, Mar 14 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M Karunanidhi today welcomed the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK)'s decision to support the DMK-led alliance in the Rajya Sabha elections from the State Assembly.

Hailing the PMK for announcing a decision favourable to the allies of the DMK-led front, he likened PMK founder-leader Dr S Ramadoss to a spinner, who ultimately takes a wicket, whichever spot he pitches the ball.

Answering a set of questions, he said ''in a cricket match, when a spinner bowls, it will look like the ball pitches nowhere near the stumps, but it will ultimately hit the stumps, earning victory for the bowler.'' About the Opposition AIADMK offering a Rajya Sabha seat to its ally, the MDMK, and the latter thanking AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa, while deciding not to contest, Mr Karunanidhi said ''there is nothing wrong in the MDMK thanking Ms Jayalalithaa who atleast granted him recognition.'' On a special court ordering notice to the CBI in connection with the gift case, involving Ms Jayalalithaa, he said the case related to Ms Jayalalithaa accepting 89 demand drafts for Rs two crore on the occasion of her 44th birthday, since when 16 years have lapsed.

He was only reminded of the saying 'justice delayed is justice denied', he added.

To another question, the veteran politician justified Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee's outburst, asking the members to burn the rules book before the Gandhi statue. Mahatma Gandhi himself would have said the same thing had he been the Lok Sabha Speaker.

UNI