Tamil allies slam BJP

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, members of the National Democratic Alliance at the Centre, on Monday criticised their ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party.

DMK president M Karunanidhi said the BJP was planning to align with the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in Tamil Nadu for future elections.

"If the BJP wants to align with the AIADMK, let it do so openly. The DMK, however, will not quit the NDA as long as the Centre does not deviate from the national agenda of governance approved by the ruling combine," he said.

Showing displeasure at the BJP state executive resolution at Vellore, Karunanidhi said, "It is highly objectionable to say that the DMK is against Hindus. All religions are equal for the DMK and there is no reason for being inimical towards only one. If caste discrimination is removed, who can oppose Hinduism?"

The DMK chief said there was no truth in the BJP resolution that his party was snapping ties with the NDA. "We didn't hold any DMK executive committee meeting in February... or adopt any resolution to that effect," he said.

MDMK general secretary Vaiko, who was a staunch supporter of the BJP until recently, was also irked.

Referring to BJP state general secretary H Raja's statement about dissociating from the 'signature campaign' launched for his release from detention, Vaiko said, "If it is the official stand of the BJP, then we would call a meeting of the MDMK administrative committee to decide the next course of action."

Vaiko pointed out that BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu and national general secretary Arun Jaitley, among others, had publicly condemned his detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

He added that he had informed Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his deputy Lal Kishenchand Advani about his decision to challenge certain provisions of POTA.

Leaders of both the allies had met at the Vellore Central Prison some time back, after the state BJP congratulated the AIADMK government on the 'annadhanam' scheme and the anti-conversion law. The party had also condemned the DMK for its 'anti-Hindu statements and gestures'.