Saturday, Jan 18, 2003
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Tamil Nadu
By Our Special Correspondent
Talking to presspersons after meeting the party president, M. Karunanidhi, here, he said the BJP had been in alliance with the DMK for the past four years and there was no problem. The BJP had a very good relationship with the DMK. Asked whether the BJP leadership was not averse to a friendly fight in the Sattankulam Assembly byelection, the Minister said that in the past too there had been friendly fights in many States. "I think the BJP and the DMK will be able to resolve the issue. The Central BJP will not be averse to a friendly fight, if there is no other solution''. Talking about differences between the Tamil Nadu BJP and the DMK, he said this problem occurred in some State units of national parties over some local issues. But he was hopeful that the parties would work out a coordinated strategy. He had not sought DMK support for the BJP in Sattankulam. Though there was a mention of the byelection, there was neither a suggestion from Mr. Goel nor an offer from Mr. Karunanidhi. "I did not say what we are planning to do. On January 20, the headquarters planning committee will meet on the issue'', Mr. Karunanidhi said later. Asked whether the DMK's antagonism towards the BJP abated after the meeting with Mr Goel, he said he never developed a hostile attitude towards anyone, anytime. On the DMK's attack on the Union Government's economic policies, Mr. Goel said each party had a standpoint on the issue and had a right to express it. "Even in my party there are different views. I do not think there is anything wrong in expressing views on these issues''. Mr. Karunanidhi said the DMK resolution on globalisation was meant to caution the Union Government. He had already explained the stand and even the Union Minister, Murasoli Maran, had spoken on this issue on many fora. Both Mr. Goel and Mr. Karunanidhi said the former's visit was aimed at ascertaining the health condition of Mr. Maran, who is now undergoing treatment in a Houston hospital in the U.S. Mr. Maran was improving, the DMK chief said. While Mr. Karunanidhi insisted that Mr. Goel was not an emissary who had come to placate him and that the meeting did not have any ``general political significance'', the Minister said he was "here for broader things''. After the meeting, Mr. Karunanidhi said he was satisfied with it. Explaining the rationale behind Mr. Goel flying down to Chennai to enquire about Mr. Maran's condition, he said making enquiries over telephone was not good culture. There was no talk about the DMK-BJP relationship in the State, Mr.Karunanidhi said and added he did not want to complain about the State BJP. Both Mr.Goel and Mr.Karunanidhi denied that there was any talk of reallocating the portfolios held by Mr.Maran (and later given to the Union Disinvestment Minister, Arun Shourie). Mr.Karunanidhi said he never talked about which portfolio should be allocated to whom. Earlier at the airport, Mr.Goel said that he wanted Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to amicably resolve the Cauvery dispute. ``Now we are solving the problem for the first one week. We are asking the Karnataka Government to release more water to Tamil Nadu.''
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