Taking pot-shots at the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Congress spokesperson Abishek Manu Singhvi on Tuesday said that those who had “ingratitude writ large” could hardly talk of gratitude of the Congress.
Mr. Singhvi’s comments came as a retort to DMK president M. Karunanidhi’s statements over the week that he would be willing to extend support to the Congress if it regretted its “ingratitude.”
“If you talk of gratitude, all I can say is those who have ingratitude writ large can hardly talk of lack of gratitude from the Congress party,” he said, speaking to journalists at the Sathyamurthy Bhavan here. However, he avoided taking Mr. Karunanidhi’s name directly.
Mr. Singhvi said that if people suggested ingratitude and at the same time extended an “olive branch” of support to the party, it only meant that they realized the growing strength of the Congress which was going it alone in the Lok Sabha elections this time.
“Wait till May 16 and those who have taunted us will be queuing up before us. Those who sought to keep distance will be our seekers and pursuers,” he said, adding the Congress had no reasons to apologise.
Asked about the Congress Union ministers from Tamil Nadu not contesting the elections, Mr. Singhvi said the selection of candidates was a decision made by the high command. Several factors, including the winnability of the contestant, were taken into account.
On Karti Chidambaram being allotted the Sivaganga seat, Mr. Singhvi dismissed the accusation that the constituency had been inherited by the son from his father and Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram.
The party spokesperson said the Congress would “exponentially” improve its vote share in Tamil Nadu and win a considerable number of seats. On the other hand, the BJP was using the falsehood of a “Modi wave” for “riding piggy back” on allies in different parts of country, including Tamil Nadu.
On India’s decision to abstain from voting on the UNHRC resolution against Sri Lanka, he said it neither meant “agreement or disagreement.” No other party in the country could claim to have done more than the Congress for the Sri Lankan Tamils, he said.