Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

We cannot join worthless Opposition ranks: BJP

By Our Special Correspondent

Chennai April 18. Hitting out at the DMK, an National Democratic Alliance constituent at the Centre, the State BJP today said it was not ready to join the ranks of ``worthless'' Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu.

A day after the DMK president, M. Karunanidhi, described the Tamil Nadu BJP as a ``close ally of the ruling AIADMK'', it hit back, terming the statement incorrect. ``It is not true. But it could be the wish of the DMK,'' the vice-president, V. Vaithilingam, said in a statement here.

Reacting sharply to Mr. Karunanidhi's jibes, Mr. Vaithilingam said his party was playing constructive Opposition, pointing out the faults and appreciating the good acts of the AIADMK regime without slackness.

Not stopping with that, Mr. Vaithilingam said the State BJP did not harbour the ``perverted, antagonistic and aggressive sentiments'' to vehemently fight for a building, which had neither archaeological importance nor any sanctity. ``The Queen Mary's College here does not live in its present building. It will function in other buildings as well.''

If the Tamil Nadu Government was making a big issue of protests, which would die down on their own, and sidelining the real issues, the Opposition parties were not cooperating with the ruling party. The State BJP was not ready to join the group of such ``worthless'' parties.

However, it had opposed the use of Prevention of Terrorism Act against the MDMK leader, Vaiko, and the journalist, Nakkheeran Gopal, and also withdrawal of free power for farm pumpsets. At the same time, it had ``in principle'' welcomed the AIADMK Government's anti-conversion law.

The hostility between the DMK and the BJP may appear to have reached a point of no-compromise, but the two are neither willing to snap the ties at the national level in a hurry nor call a truce. As of now, the DMK continues its alliance with the all-India BJP, insisting all along that it has broken ties with the State party.

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