Battle lines are being drawn for the Assembly polls due in April-May in Tamil Nadu with major political parties firming up or in the process of striking alliances.
While the ruling DMK had already had two rounds of talks with its key ally and UPA coalition leader Congress, it had netted the PMK, Indian Union Muslim League and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi into its basket.
The Opposition AIADMK had already launched talks with DMDK, floated by actor Vijayakant, MDMK and the Left parties besides allotting seats to minor parties like Puthiya Tamizhagam, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, Republican Party of India and All India Forward Block.
The AIADMK's efforts for a rainbow alliance had succeeded with the DMDK joining it.
The BJP is waging a lone battle for the second time as neither of the two major Dravidian parties had entertained it.
The alliances had undergone a sea change from the one formed during the 2006 Assembly polls.While the DMK-Congress alliance and the AIADMK-MDMK tie-up remained intact, the Left parties have changed sides from DMK camp to AIADMK side since the 2009 Lok Sabha polls.
The PMK, known for shifting its loyalties, had done it once again by shifting from AIADMK camp to that of the DMK-Congress combine.
Though there were reports about hitches in the seat-sharing talks between Congress and DMK, political observers feel that Congress high command would finally come to terms with the Dravidian party.
The Congress, which had been insisting on power-sharing, more number of seats, a common minimum programme among other things had reportedly been hurt by DMK's "unilateral" allocation of 31 seats to the PMK without taking it into confidence.
The DMDK's decision to go along with the Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK had sealed the prospects of Congress-DMDK led Third Front in the state.
On the AIADMK front, the allocation of seats to key allies like MDMK and Left parties depended on the number of seats to be given to DMDK.
Speculation is rife that the fledgling party will be getting around 45 seats.
The Congress, which had been demanding over 80 seats, had been reportedly offered by the DMK 53 seats. But with talks remaining inconclusive, it might get some more seats.
The VCK had demanded 15 seats but was likely to settle for 11 seats reportedly offered by the DMK.
Minor players like parties floated by actor Sarath Kumar and some caste-based parties like Kongu Velalar Munntera Kazhagam, which had spoiled the chances of DMK combine in eastern Tamil Nadu during Lok Sabha polls, were yet to finalise their poll strategy.
Source: sify
Monday, February 28, 2011
Rajathi, Kanimozhi should reveal truth about property deals: Jayalalithaa
AIADMK chief J. Jayalalithaa on Sunday asked Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi's third wife Rajathi and daughter Kanimozhi to come out with the 'real truth' about a couple of land deals in Chennai, including one referred to by corporate lobbyist Niira Radia.
In a statement issued here, Jayalalithaa said there is a limit to the coincidences as to the people figuring in the two property deals, concerning a prime property on the Anna Salai out of which Tata group's Voltas functioned, and the Windsor Estate in Kotagiri.
Involved in the deals were businessman Shanmughanathan, who bought both properties, Saravanan, who was the power of attorney-holder of the property at Anna Salai and S. Srinivasam Rathnam, whose name appeared as a witness in the sale of the Windsor Estate and has the same address in Chennai as Rajathi's auditor.
Referring to the media reports of a tapped conversation between Radia and Rajathi with Rathnam serving as interpreter, Jayalalithaa said as per the talks, Rajathi was unhappy that a property transaction promised by the Tata group had not gone through.
'The conversation specifically mentions Voltas (a Tata group company) as the occupants of the said property in Chennai,' she said, adding that according to documents on the Anna Salai deal, Saravanan sold the property, valued around Rs.350 crore, to Shanmughanathan, the director of Shangkalpam Industries Pvt Ltd, for only Rs.25 crore.
Reports had also linked Saravanan and Shanmughanathan to Rajathi, who had strongly denied it.
In a statement, Rajathi had sought to clarify that Saravanan was a former employee of her furniture showroom, Royal Enterprises but no longer employed by her, and Shanmughanathan is a businessman from Malaysia with whom she had no connection whatsoever.
Citing media reports, Jayalalithaa said the 525.98 acre Windsor Estate was purchased by Shanmughanathan on Dec 16,2006 for a mere Rs.2.47 crore.
The transaction document was witnessed by S. Srinivasa Rathnam of Chennai, she said, adding Rajathi's auditor Rathnam is actually the same S.Srinivasa Rathman who operates out of the same address in Chennai.
'Shanmughanathan's Voltas land purchase involved Rajathi's former employee Saravanan. Shanmughanathan's Windsor Estate purchase involved Rajathi's present auditor Rathnam. Windsor estate is referred to by locals as Kanimozhi Estate.'
'At least now, will Rajathi and Kanimozhi come out with the real truth?' Jayalalithaa said.
Source: sify
VCK will stay with DMK despite pressure to switch
Confirming that he was getting repeated feelers from the AIADMK camp, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi(VCK) leader Thol Thirumavalavan on Sunday said that despite the “heavy pressure”, he would stick with the DMK. “I'm getting strong feelers almost on a daily basis, but I am not going to leave the DMK alliance,” he told The Hindu following reports that the AIADMK had approached him for an alliance.
The VCK contested the 2006 Assembly election as part of the AIADMK alliance, but joined the DMK combine immediately after the elections. The party fielded nine candidates, but could win only two seats.
Distancing himself from reports that his party was toying with the idea of going with the AIADMK, the Dalit leader said there was no need for him to float such reports to increase the bargaining power of his party.
“But at the same time, we expect to be rewarded for our loyalty. We hope the DMK will make us feel comfortable in the alliance. We are not making any unreasonable demands,” Mr. Thirumavalavan said.
The party expects that the DMK leadership will take into consideration its strength and offer a reasonable number of seats befitting its stature, he said.
The VCK had never talked about “options” because it had always wanted to go with the DMK. Asked whether the DMK wanted to complete seat-sharing with the Congress before coming to the VCK, he said, “I have no idea.”
VCK MLA Ravikumar said his party's demands for an honourable allocation of seats was “fully justifiable.”
“Our strength is time-tested, and the VCK and PMK together can make a formidable combination in the northern belt of the State. The rival camp, whatever be the strength, cannot match us,” he said.
Source: Hindu
The VCK contested the 2006 Assembly election as part of the AIADMK alliance, but joined the DMK combine immediately after the elections. The party fielded nine candidates, but could win only two seats.
Distancing himself from reports that his party was toying with the idea of going with the AIADMK, the Dalit leader said there was no need for him to float such reports to increase the bargaining power of his party.
“But at the same time, we expect to be rewarded for our loyalty. We hope the DMK will make us feel comfortable in the alliance. We are not making any unreasonable demands,” Mr. Thirumavalavan said.
The party expects that the DMK leadership will take into consideration its strength and offer a reasonable number of seats befitting its stature, he said.
The VCK had never talked about “options” because it had always wanted to go with the DMK. Asked whether the DMK wanted to complete seat-sharing with the Congress before coming to the VCK, he said, “I have no idea.”
VCK MLA Ravikumar said his party's demands for an honourable allocation of seats was “fully justifiable.”
“Our strength is time-tested, and the VCK and PMK together can make a formidable combination in the northern belt of the State. The rival camp, whatever be the strength, cannot match us,” he said.
Source: Hindu
Thursday, February 24, 2011
AIADMK finds place in 30-member JPC
The government finally agreed to a 30-member joint parliamentary committee to probe the 2G spectrum allocation scam under pressure from the non-Congress, non-BJP parties in the UPA, the NDA, and smaller parties across the spectrum. A formal motion is to be moved in the Lok Sabha on Thursday and in the Rajya Sabha after February 28.
The JPC would be led by a Lok Sabha member from the Congress party. According to sources, the panel would have 20 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha. The government will finalise the terms of reference of the JPC in consultation with the Leaders of the Opposition in the two Houses.
Earlier on Wednesday, AIADMK MP M. Thambidurai met Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and NDA working chairperson L.K. Advani to request that the principal Opposition also take up its case for a 30-member JPC.
Both Mr Advani and Ms Swaraj conveyed these sentiments to the government and suggested that a bigger JPC be formed. “Even parliamentary standing committees, which are considered mini-JPCs, have 30 members. Moreover, the earlier three JPCs on corruption have had 30 members,” Ms Swaraj told reporters.
The Congress will have 11 members (eight from the Lok Sabha and three from the Rajya Sabha), the BJP six (three from the LS, two from the RS, leaving one member to ally Shiv Sena), the JD-U two, Left two, the DMK two, BSP two, and the Samajwadi Party, Trinamul Congress, Biju Janata Dal, NCP and AIADMK one member each in the JPC, sources said.
The time given for the committee to submit its report could be till the last day of this year’s monsoon session of Parliament. This will be the first JPC to be constituted after the Congress-led UPA came to power in 2004. Among likely members are Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), M. Thambidurai (AIADMK), T.R. Baalu and Tiruchy Siva (both DMK), and Arjun Charan Sethi (BJD). The talk in political circles is that ministerial hopefuls are dreading becoming members of the JPC at a time when the PM has announced that he will reconstitute his ministry after the Budget Session of Parliament.
Source: deccanchronicle.com
The JPC would be led by a Lok Sabha member from the Congress party. According to sources, the panel would have 20 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha. The government will finalise the terms of reference of the JPC in consultation with the Leaders of the Opposition in the two Houses.
Earlier on Wednesday, AIADMK MP M. Thambidurai met Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and NDA working chairperson L.K. Advani to request that the principal Opposition also take up its case for a 30-member JPC.
Both Mr Advani and Ms Swaraj conveyed these sentiments to the government and suggested that a bigger JPC be formed. “Even parliamentary standing committees, which are considered mini-JPCs, have 30 members. Moreover, the earlier three JPCs on corruption have had 30 members,” Ms Swaraj told reporters.
The Congress will have 11 members (eight from the Lok Sabha and three from the Rajya Sabha), the BJP six (three from the LS, two from the RS, leaving one member to ally Shiv Sena), the JD-U two, Left two, the DMK two, BSP two, and the Samajwadi Party, Trinamul Congress, Biju Janata Dal, NCP and AIADMK one member each in the JPC, sources said.
The time given for the committee to submit its report could be till the last day of this year’s monsoon session of Parliament. This will be the first JPC to be constituted after the Congress-led UPA came to power in 2004. Among likely members are Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), M. Thambidurai (AIADMK), T.R. Baalu and Tiruchy Siva (both DMK), and Arjun Charan Sethi (BJD). The talk in political circles is that ministerial hopefuls are dreading becoming members of the JPC at a time when the PM has announced that he will reconstitute his ministry after the Budget Session of Parliament.
Source: deccanchronicle.com
Thursday, February 17, 2011
DMK strikes poll deal with PMK, gives 31 seats
Ending a month-long uncertainty, the DMK and PMK on Friday clinched an alliance for the coming Tamil Nadu Assembly polls under which the ruling party's junior partner has been allotted 31 Assembly seats. The deal was finalized at a meeting between Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss here on a day when the DMK first family-owned Kalaignar TV was raided by CBI over the 2G spectrum allocation scam.
Karunanidhi, announcing the accord at the end of the nearly 90 minute meeting with his former ally said the two parties had decided to fight the elections jointly.
A beaming Ramadoss said his party had been allotted 31 seats and also a Rajya Sabha seat.
He exuded confidence that the DMK-led alliance which also has Congress in it, would "sweep" the polls.
The poll-talks between the DMK and PMK had come to an abrupt end with Congress President Sonia Gandhi reportedly expressing her reservations over the presence of Ramdoss-led party in the alliance during her recent meeting with Karunanidhi in New Delhi.
As a damage control excercise, former Union Health Minister and Ramadoss' son, Dr R Anbumani, called on Gandhi at Delhi yesterday when she reportedly gave her nod for admitting PMK into the DMK-Congress combine.
The PMK, known for changing sides during every elections, had contested 31 seats in the 2006 Assembly polls in alliance with the DMK and won 18 of them.
The DMK snapped its ties with the PMK in 2008 after Ramadoss gave "zero marks" to DMK for governance. In 2009 Lok Sabha polls, PMK contested seven seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry from the AIADMK-led platform but drew a blank.
Besides, the two parties bitterly fought the Pennagaram by-polls last year in which the DMK won and PMK came second.
The party will be the third largest constituent in the DMK-Congress combine.
Meanwhile, the Congress is yet to officially intitiate poll talks with the DMK though it has repeatedly asserted that the alliance between the two parties is firm.
TNCC president K V Thangkabalu, after meeting Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, also in-charge of party's Tamil Nadu affairs, had announced that they would initiate talks by the week-end.
Source: hindustantimes.com
Monday, February 14, 2011
Unseat Karunanidhi in his own constituency, Jayalalithaa tells cadres
AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa on Monday called upon her party cadres “to create a new history” by ensuring the defeat of Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi in his own constituency in the Assembly election.
“Mr. Karunanidhi has been saying he has never lost an election. He must face defeat this time. He must bite the dust. It will be a permanent victory for the AIADMK and there will be no fall for us,” she said presiding over 63 marriages organised by Jayalalithaa Peravai in Chennai as part of her 63rd birthday celebrations.
Golden period
Stating that the AIADMK and Tamil Nadu were on the verge of entering a golden period, she said if Mr. Karunanidhi was defeated in the elections, the darkness engulfing Tamil Nadu would disappear.
Ms. Jayalalithaa said corruption, hoarding and smuggling had become rampant in the country and everyday there was news about how one family had enriched itself.
“Even before we could understand the gravity of the Rs. 1.76 lakh crore 2 G spectrum scam, a scam to the tune of Rs. 2 lakh crore has unfolded. One party has made use of one ministry and made such a huge money. This money had been stashed away in foreign banks in the name of one family,” she added.
Ms. Jayalalithaa said the country would have been benefitted if the money was used for opening schools and hospitals and for the development of industry and agriculture.
Stressing that Tamil Nadu could be saved from the “evil forces” only by establishing MGR rule, she said the AIADMK had the responsibility and duty to save the country.
Prepare for sacrifice
“We should destroy the evil force in Tamil Nadu and the victory will save the country because Tamil Nadu is the birth place of that evil force,” she said.
Ms. Jayalalithaa said the AIADMK, committed to the ideals of honesty, dharma and patriotism, could certainly challenge misuse of power by the “evil force” and its “money power and muscle power.” She also called upon the cadres to prepare themselves for any sacrifice to defeat the designs of the “evil force.”
“Everyone in Tamil Nadu should cooperate for releasing the State from the clutches of the evil force,” she said.
Gifts to couples
Ms. Jayalalithaa also gave 63 types of gifts (seethanam) to the newly wed couples.
Jayalalithaa Peravai secretary Nainar Nagendran and Party MP N. Balaganga were present.
Source: Hindu
“Mr. Karunanidhi has been saying he has never lost an election. He must face defeat this time. He must bite the dust. It will be a permanent victory for the AIADMK and there will be no fall for us,” she said presiding over 63 marriages organised by Jayalalithaa Peravai in Chennai as part of her 63rd birthday celebrations.
Golden period
Stating that the AIADMK and Tamil Nadu were on the verge of entering a golden period, she said if Mr. Karunanidhi was defeated in the elections, the darkness engulfing Tamil Nadu would disappear.
Ms. Jayalalithaa said corruption, hoarding and smuggling had become rampant in the country and everyday there was news about how one family had enriched itself.
“Even before we could understand the gravity of the Rs. 1.76 lakh crore 2 G spectrum scam, a scam to the tune of Rs. 2 lakh crore has unfolded. One party has made use of one ministry and made such a huge money. This money had been stashed away in foreign banks in the name of one family,” she added.
Ms. Jayalalithaa said the country would have been benefitted if the money was used for opening schools and hospitals and for the development of industry and agriculture.
Stressing that Tamil Nadu could be saved from the “evil forces” only by establishing MGR rule, she said the AIADMK had the responsibility and duty to save the country.
Prepare for sacrifice
“We should destroy the evil force in Tamil Nadu and the victory will save the country because Tamil Nadu is the birth place of that evil force,” she said.
Ms. Jayalalithaa said the AIADMK, committed to the ideals of honesty, dharma and patriotism, could certainly challenge misuse of power by the “evil force” and its “money power and muscle power.” She also called upon the cadres to prepare themselves for any sacrifice to defeat the designs of the “evil force.”
“Everyone in Tamil Nadu should cooperate for releasing the State from the clutches of the evil force,” she said.
Gifts to couples
Ms. Jayalalithaa also gave 63 types of gifts (seethanam) to the newly wed couples.
Jayalalithaa Peravai secretary Nainar Nagendran and Party MP N. Balaganga were present.
Source: Hindu
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Raja in CBI custody for two more days; not giving 'useful info'
Former Telecom Minister A. Raja was today remanded to two more days of CBI custody by a court here for further interrogation after the agency submitted that he was not divulging any 'useful information' regarding his role in the 2G scam.
Special Judge O P Saini also sent former Telecom Secretary Siddartha Behura and Raja's former Personal Secretary R.K. Chandolia to Tihar Jail under judicial custody as the agency said it no longer needs them in its custody.
Raja will remain in CBI custody till February 10.
The trio, arrested by the agency on February 2 for their alleged role in the 2G spectrum allocation scam, involving a loss of Rs 22,000 crore to the public exchequer as per the CVC estimates, were produced before the Special Judge following expiry of their five-day custody with the CBI.
After producing the trio before the court, the CBI sought four more days of custody to interrogate Raja saying that he was 'not divulging any useful and crucial information' about his role in 2G spectrum scam.
"Some more documents are to be recovered and accused A. Raja is to be confronted with them," senior CBI prosecutor Akhilesh submitted.
Refuting allegations by Raja's counsel Ramesh Gupta that the agency had not disclosed to the court the outcome of the probe conducted so far in this case, Akhilesh said, "The case diary has already been submitted to the court. Each and everything cannot be disclosed in the open courtroom."
Opposing CBI's demand for four more days of Raja's custody, Gupta said, "I am not having the custody of any document, which the CBI wants to recover from me."
"Whatever documents were there, they have already been seized by them in 2009 itself," he added.
About Behura and Chandolia, the CBI counsel said the agency no longer needs their custody.
"The two can be sent to Tihar Jail under judicial custody," he said.
Source: deccanchronicle.com
Special Judge O P Saini also sent former Telecom Secretary Siddartha Behura and Raja's former Personal Secretary R.K. Chandolia to Tihar Jail under judicial custody as the agency said it no longer needs them in its custody.
Raja will remain in CBI custody till February 10.
The trio, arrested by the agency on February 2 for their alleged role in the 2G spectrum allocation scam, involving a loss of Rs 22,000 crore to the public exchequer as per the CVC estimates, were produced before the Special Judge following expiry of their five-day custody with the CBI.
After producing the trio before the court, the CBI sought four more days of custody to interrogate Raja saying that he was 'not divulging any useful and crucial information' about his role in 2G spectrum scam.
"Some more documents are to be recovered and accused A. Raja is to be confronted with them," senior CBI prosecutor Akhilesh submitted.
Refuting allegations by Raja's counsel Ramesh Gupta that the agency had not disclosed to the court the outcome of the probe conducted so far in this case, Akhilesh said, "The case diary has already been submitted to the court. Each and everything cannot be disclosed in the open courtroom."
Opposing CBI's demand for four more days of Raja's custody, Gupta said, "I am not having the custody of any document, which the CBI wants to recover from me."
"Whatever documents were there, they have already been seized by them in 2009 itself," he added.
About Behura and Chandolia, the CBI counsel said the agency no longer needs their custody.
"The two can be sent to Tihar Jail under judicial custody," he said.
Source: deccanchronicle.com
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Karunanidhi involved in 2G scam, Swamy tells CBI court
A Delhi court on Saturday issued notice to the CBI, asking it to file a detailed report on whether its probe in the 2G spectrum case covers the aspect of national security as raised by Janta Party chief Subramanian Swamy in his private complaint seeking prosecution of former telecom minister A Raja.
"Issue notice to the CBI to file its detailed report of the investigation being carried out by it and whether it covers the aspect of national security as raised by Subramanian Swamy in the present case," special CBI judge Pradeep Chaddah said.
During the hearing, the court queried if they can still proceed in the case before it in the wake of Raja's arrest by the CBI.
Seeking CBI's response in the matter, the court posted the hearing for February 23.
"I am of the opinion that this court should not proceed for the time being with this matter", the judge said while issuing notice to the CBI.
Swamy, meanwhile, submitted before the court that he is intending to move an application to implead some other persons, including Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi, as accused in this complaint.
Comptroller and Auditor General Vinod Rai, who had been summoned by the court to appear as witnesses on Swamy's complaint, has filed a certified copy of the entire report concerning this matter through his advocate Sandeep Sethi.
The special CBI judge had on January 22 sought presence of Rai and Director CAG R P Singh in the court on Saturday to depose as witnesses on the complaint by Swamy seeking registration of a criminal case against Raja for his alleged role in the scam, which, according to the CAG, caused a presumptive loss of 1.76 lakh crore to the exchequer.
The court had on January 7 held as "maintainable" the private complaint filed by Swamy on December 15 last year.
He had made a three-fold prayer which included that his complaint be taken cognizance of and Raja be summoned to take the case to its logical conclusion.
As per the second prayer, Swamy wanted the court to appoint him "as a deemed public prosecutor under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act."
Swamy also wanted the court's directions to agencies like the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) to assist him in conducting prosecution and in the further investigation into the scam.
Quoting from the CAG report, Swamy had alleged that Raja committed fraud by adopting the first-come-first-served basis in allocating Spectrum to ineligible companies.
Source:-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
"Issue notice to the CBI to file its detailed report of the investigation being carried out by it and whether it covers the aspect of national security as raised by Subramanian Swamy in the present case," special CBI judge Pradeep Chaddah said.
During the hearing, the court queried if they can still proceed in the case before it in the wake of Raja's arrest by the CBI.
Seeking CBI's response in the matter, the court posted the hearing for February 23.
"I am of the opinion that this court should not proceed for the time being with this matter", the judge said while issuing notice to the CBI.
Swamy, meanwhile, submitted before the court that he is intending to move an application to implead some other persons, including Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi, as accused in this complaint.
Comptroller and Auditor General Vinod Rai, who had been summoned by the court to appear as witnesses on Swamy's complaint, has filed a certified copy of the entire report concerning this matter through his advocate Sandeep Sethi.
The special CBI judge had on January 22 sought presence of Rai and Director CAG R P Singh in the court on Saturday to depose as witnesses on the complaint by Swamy seeking registration of a criminal case against Raja for his alleged role in the scam, which, according to the CAG, caused a presumptive loss of 1.76 lakh crore to the exchequer.
The court had on January 7 held as "maintainable" the private complaint filed by Swamy on December 15 last year.
He had made a three-fold prayer which included that his complaint be taken cognizance of and Raja be summoned to take the case to its logical conclusion.
As per the second prayer, Swamy wanted the court to appoint him "as a deemed public prosecutor under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act."
Swamy also wanted the court's directions to agencies like the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) to assist him in conducting prosecution and in the further investigation into the scam.
Quoting from the CAG report, Swamy had alleged that Raja committed fraud by adopting the first-come-first-served basis in allocating Spectrum to ineligible companies.
Source:-http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Govt has made itself a 'laughing stock': Jayalalithaa
In Tamil Nadu, the political aftershocks of A Raja's arrest have been co-opted quickly into the campaign agenda of the Opposition. The state votes in three months.
In Chennai today, AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa said the arrest of the former Telecom Minister has convinced her that the government has "turned itself into a laughing stock by contradicting itself several times over."
Ms Jayalalithaa said that first, the government's auditor declared Mr Raja guilty of costing the country upto 1.76 lakh crores through his deliberate mishandling of the allocation of spectrum for mobile networks. Despite this, she said, new Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal said that 2G licenses had caused no losses to the government.
Now, the CBI, which also reports to the Centre, Ms Jayalithaa alleges, has proved that financial crimes were committed by arresting Mr Raja.
Mr Raja was arrested along with two of his former aides on Wednesday in Delhi for his alleged role in the spectrum scam. The Supreme Court is monitoring the CBI's investigation to unravel how the scam - described as India's largest - was planned and executed.
"The arrest is meant to hoodwink the public and seems to have been taken just to tell the Supreme Court that some action is being taken against Raja because a few months ago, the supreme Court had asked why no action had been taken." (Read: Jayalalithaa's entire statement on Raja arrest)
Ms Jayalalithaa said that her party will continue to insist that a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) be set up to investigate the scam. Different opposition parties united in their demand for a JPC in November and since then, Parliament has been paralyzed, with the government refusing to sanction a JPC.
For NDTV Updates
In Chennai today, AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa said the arrest of the former Telecom Minister has convinced her that the government has "turned itself into a laughing stock by contradicting itself several times over."
Ms Jayalalithaa said that first, the government's auditor declared Mr Raja guilty of costing the country upto 1.76 lakh crores through his deliberate mishandling of the allocation of spectrum for mobile networks. Despite this, she said, new Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal said that 2G licenses had caused no losses to the government.
Now, the CBI, which also reports to the Centre, Ms Jayalithaa alleges, has proved that financial crimes were committed by arresting Mr Raja.
Mr Raja was arrested along with two of his former aides on Wednesday in Delhi for his alleged role in the spectrum scam. The Supreme Court is monitoring the CBI's investigation to unravel how the scam - described as India's largest - was planned and executed.
"The arrest is meant to hoodwink the public and seems to have been taken just to tell the Supreme Court that some action is being taken against Raja because a few months ago, the supreme Court had asked why no action had been taken." (Read: Jayalalithaa's entire statement on Raja arrest)
Ms Jayalalithaa said that her party will continue to insist that a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) be set up to investigate the scam. Different opposition parties united in their demand for a JPC in November and since then, Parliament has been paralyzed, with the government refusing to sanction a JPC.
For NDTV Updates
Govt has made itself a 'laughing stock': Jayalalithaa
In Tamil Nadu, the political aftershocks of A Raja's arrest have been co-opted quickly into the campaign agenda of the Opposition. The state votes in three months.
In Chennai today, AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa said the arrest of the former Telecom Minister has convinced her that the government has "turned itself into a laughing stock by contradicting itself several times over."
Ms Jayalalithaa said that first, the government's auditor declared Mr Raja guilty of costing the country upto 1.76 lakh crores through his deliberate mishandling of the allocation of spectrum for mobile networks. Despite this, she said, new Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal said that 2G licenses had caused no losses to the government.
Now, the CBI, which also reports to the Centre, Ms Jayalithaa alleges, has proved that financial crimes were committed by arresting Mr Raja.
Mr Raja was arrested along with two of his former aides on Wednesday in Delhi for his alleged role in the spectrum scam. The Supreme Court is monitoring the CBI's investigation to unravel how the scam - described as India's largest - was planned and executed.
"The arrest is meant to hoodwink the public and seems to have been taken just to tell the Supreme Court that some action is being taken against Raja because a few months ago, the supreme Court had asked why no action had been taken." (Read: Jayalalithaa's entire statement on Raja arrest)
Ms Jayalalithaa said that her party will continue to insist that a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) be set up to investigate the scam. Different opposition parties united in their demand for a JPC in November and since then, Parliament has been paralyzed, with the government refusing to sanction a JPC.
For NDTV Updates
In Chennai today, AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa said the arrest of the former Telecom Minister has convinced her that the government has "turned itself into a laughing stock by contradicting itself several times over."
Ms Jayalalithaa said that first, the government's auditor declared Mr Raja guilty of costing the country upto 1.76 lakh crores through his deliberate mishandling of the allocation of spectrum for mobile networks. Despite this, she said, new Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal said that 2G licenses had caused no losses to the government.
Now, the CBI, which also reports to the Centre, Ms Jayalithaa alleges, has proved that financial crimes were committed by arresting Mr Raja.
Mr Raja was arrested along with two of his former aides on Wednesday in Delhi for his alleged role in the spectrum scam. The Supreme Court is monitoring the CBI's investigation to unravel how the scam - described as India's largest - was planned and executed.
"The arrest is meant to hoodwink the public and seems to have been taken just to tell the Supreme Court that some action is being taken against Raja because a few months ago, the supreme Court had asked why no action had been taken." (Read: Jayalalithaa's entire statement on Raja arrest)
Ms Jayalalithaa said that her party will continue to insist that a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) be set up to investigate the scam. Different opposition parties united in their demand for a JPC in November and since then, Parliament has been paralyzed, with the government refusing to sanction a JPC.
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