Have not invited Karti Chidambaram to join my party, says GK Vasan

Erode, Feb 4: Putting at rest reports of him having invited former Union Minister P Chidambaram's son Karti Chidambaram to join his newly revived Tamil Maanila Congress, its chief GK Vasan on Wednesday said such news was totally false.

"I have never invited Karti Chidambaram to join the newly revived Tamil Manila Congress. Such information about me doing so is totally false," he said after attending a function at Perundurai, about 20 km from here.

He declined to comment on the 'poster war' and clarifications and replies between TNCC president EVKS Elangovan and Karti Chidambaram.

"It is purely Congress inner party issue. I do not want to make any comment on this or interfere the same," he said.

On February 1, posters against Elangovan for his veiled attack on P Chidambaram and his son were found pasted in Erode, his home district. They carried pictures of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Chidambaram and son Karthi alongside criticising Elangovan for 'derogatory' remarks against 'some Congress leaders'.

Elangovan, who had issued a showcause notice to Karti seeking explanation for criticising the high command, had last month made an indirect attack against him and his father. Karti had, however, refused to give an explanation, saying only the AICC Disciplinary Committee was competent to seek it.

Soon after former Union Minister Jayanthi Natarajan quit Congress, Elangovan in an apparent reference to the Chidambarams had said, "Tamil Nadu Congress will certainly attain salvation if one more person quits along with his heir."

Earlier, speaking to reporters in Coimbatore, Vasan referred to the Sri Lankan refugee issue, saying the Centre should not take hasty steps to send them back.

The TMC leader said government should first ensure equal rights and status for Tamils along with other citizens, besides total security and not take hasty steps to send them back.

PTI