Chennai:
The DMK has decided not to pull out of the UPA government. This decision was taken at a meeting in Chennai today, presided over by party chief M Karunanidhi. The party has six members in the Union Council of Ministers.
"The spectrum issue has been exaggerated by certain selfish forces. We don't have any problem with the Congress," said Mr Karunanidhi after the meeting.
The main reason for the strain in Congress-DMK relations is the 2G scam which has sent two senior DMK leaders to jail, including Mr Karunanidhi's daughter, Kanimozhi. The same telecom scam has also loomed over Mr Karunanidhi's nephew, Dayanidhi Maran, who has been serving as Textiles Minister. Recent investigations by the CBI pointed to financial misconduct by Mr Maran, when he served earlier as Telecom Minister, had built pressure on him to resign.
The DMK today condemned the CBI for linking the 2G scam to Kalaignar TV transactions and said it will continue to fight the charges against its top leaders 'legally'.
In Delhi, the Supreme Court is considering Kanimozhi's application for bail. It was rejected by the Delhi High Court which cited her "political clout" and ability to influence witnesses as a major concern.
Mr Karunanidhi's resentment with the Congress has been publicly expressed since his daughter was arrested on May 20 for accepting a bribe along with A Raja, who like her is now in Tihar Jail. Mr Raja who is also from the DMK was Telecom Minister till he resigned in November last year.
The CBI has charged Kanimozhi with accepting Rs 214 crore as a bribe in the 2G scam which was allegedly masterminded by Mr Raja. The money was deposited with Kalaignar TV in Chennai, which is owned by Kanimozhi, her stepmother, and Sharad Kumar, who is also in jail.
The tension between the Congress and the DMK has also been created by the disastrous results of their alliance in the recent Tamil Nadu election. The Congress bullied the DMK into ceding a hefty amount of seats. The DMK went on to deliver one if its worst performances. The Congress did not fare well either.