New Delhi:
The arrest and incarceration of his youngest child has been difficult for 87-year-old DMK chief Karunanidhi. Extremely upset, he made his unhappiness clear and did not meet Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on a trip to Delhi for the first time since their parties became partners seven years ago.
Karunanidhi, in frail health, was in the Capital to meet his daughter Kanimozhi at the Tihar Jail. Kanimozhi - a DMK Rajya Sabha MP who has been in jail since last Friday for her alleged role in the 2G case - described that meeting as "very emotional" and said both father and daughter had cried. The DMK chief extended his stay by a day, waiting for word on Kanimozhi's bail plea in the Delhi High Court. He finally left for Chennai on Tuesday evening.
The visit was a much-watched one and ally Congress is attempting to clear the air.
Home Minister P Chidambaram called on the DMK chief last night and the party's general secretary in charge of Tamil Nadu, Ghulam Nabi Azad, met Karunanidhi today, as did Congress spokesperson Jayanti Natrajan.
After meeting Karunanidhi, Azad asserted that the arrest of Kanimozhi in the 2G spectrum case would not have any impact on ties between the two parties, but insisted that the government would not interfere in the case.
"All these goings-on have no effect on DMK-Congress alliance and in future also it will have no effect," the Union Minister said. He added that Congress president Sonia Gandhi was concerned about Kanimozhi being in jail.
"Our leader Sonia Gandhi ji is concerned because Kanimozhi being a woman is in jail and it is a matter of concern and in fact one can't do anything," Azad said.
After meeting Karunanidhi, Jayanti Natarajan said, "The DMK has said that it will fight the case legally. I met him (Karunanidhi) as a courtesy," she said. She also said Karunanidhi told her that Kanimozhi was fine and she was prepared to fight the case legally.