DMK solidly backs Raja, slams opposition for maligning party

Chennai, Feb 3 (PTI) The DMK today stood solidly behindembattled former Telecom Minister and its Dalit face A Raja onthe 2G Spectrum scam, asserting his "mere arrest" would notmake him guilty.

Meeting a day after the CBI arrested Raja and two formersenior officials, the DMK''s top policy making body, theGeneral Council, slammed opposition parties for attempts to"malign" the party and "blow the issue out of proportion."

After a nearly three-hour meeting, DMK spokesperson T K SElangovan told reporters that the high command had not got anyresignation letter from Raja, who is under the scanner of theSupreme Court which is monitoring his and former aides'' rolein allocation of 2G spectrum in 2008.

"As of now, he continues to be propaganda secretary,"Elangovan said amid speculations earlier in the day that Rajahad offered his resignation from the post.

The resolution said "mere arrest" of Raja does not makehim guilty and the opposition''s only evidence against him wasthe CAG report tabled in Parliament.

Pointing out that CAG had given a similar report duringthe NDA regime on the issue, it said none had raised any voicethen.

Asked if the Raja episode would prove detrimental to DMK''sprospects in the Assembly polls due in May, Elangovan said theparty would face it on the basis of its performance andseveral welfare schemes it had launched.

He asserted that Raja would come out clean.

The opposition, which blocked functioning of Parliamentduring its last session, has again threatened to do so in thecoming Budget session, demanding a JPC probe into the issue,the resolution said.

It said as per normal practice the Public AccountsCommittee, headed by an opposition member, goes into CAGreports.

It also recalled Karunanidhi''s earlier statement that hewould not hesitate to take action against Raja if he wasproved guilty, adding the party was "an open book."

The General Council was presided over by DMK patriarch MKarunanidhi, who remained incommunicado since Raja''s arrest inDelhi yesterday.

The Chief Minister skipped his routine meeting withreporters after the General Council, as a large contingent ofmedia waited for his reaction to Raja''s arrest.

The meet was attended by Karunanidhi''s sons - UnionMinister M K Alagiri and Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin anddaughter Kanimozhi, MP, among others.