The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) did not insist on allotting the portfolio of telecommunication to A. Raja during the formation of United Progressive Alliance government-II, DMK president and Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said on Monday.
For that matter, no one had recommended anyone for the ministerial position, he said, referring to the events leading to the UPA government-II formation in May 2009.
Mr Raja was given the portfolio because he was holding it since May 18, 2007.
Recalling the negotiations he had held with Congress leaders Pranab Mukherjee, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ahmed Patel during his visit to New Delhi after the results of the Lok Sabha polls in May 2009, Mr. Karunanidhi said they had told him the ‘formula' to be adopted by the Congress regarding government formation.
On news reports regarding transcripts of Radia tapes on Mr. Raja getting the telecommunication portfolio, the DMK leader termed them as “mischievous.” Just because some newspapers had blown “out of proportion” the publication of the transcripts, the entire conversation could not be construed as true.
Action assured
After participating in a discussion with his party functionaries of Karur district, Mr Karunanidhi, in an interaction with reporters, reiterated that his party would take action against Mr Raja, if found guilty. Asked whether searches conducted recently on the premises of Mr Raja's kin and friends had caused any damage to the party, the DMK president replied that the self-respect movement had grown by fighting humiliation.
He termed as routine the summons served by the Central Bureau of Investigation on Mr. Raja for questioning. The former Union Minister would reply to the questions.
To a question on the status of Congress-DMK relationship, Mr Karunanidhi replied that the media could not break it.
