Revealed: Why Jaya skipped meeting with Narendra Modi in Chennai

, Oct 19: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister

skipped an expected meeting with her counterpart in Gujarat -- Narendra Modi. Although it was reported that the

chief would meet Modi when the latter would deliver his speech at a function organised at Madras University on Friday, Oct 18. However, Jayalalithaa, who is also known as Jaya, did not turn up to the venue leaving many surprised and amused.

Political experts believe that Jaya wants to maintain equal distance from the two national parties -- Congress and BJP, at least for the time being. Meanwhile, media reports highlighted Jayalalithaa's prime ministerial ambitions in the event of a non-Congress, non-BJP scenario. Jaya's dreams are no longer a secret, believe the experts.

It has also been reported that hosting Modi at this time would have led to some erosion of minority votes. Earlier massive protest erupted against Gujarat CM in Chennai. Many agitators were arrested on Friday.

Jaya wants to maintain equal distance from Congress and BJP at this time

The protesters supported a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) which later was dismissed by Madras High Court. Tamizhnadu Makkal Katchi (TMK) president -- Thanga Tamizhvelan earlier had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) opposing Modi's participation in the function which has been arranged by the Palkhivala Foundation to release a book authored by Arun Shourie.

Tamizhvelan, in his PIL, said that it was not fair to allow a political leader "known for his Hindu fundamentalism" to speak at the university. The petitioner also added, "Permission for the event should be cancelled as it would hurt the secular ethos of the university in the light of the 2002 Gujarat carnage."

He also had referred to a previous incident where permission granted to an American Islamic scholar Amina Wadud was cancelled in the university campus on the ground that her speech might hurt the sentiments of some sections.

OneIndia News