Saying Congress president Sonia Gandhi enquired about the well-being of his daughter Kanimozhi in [Tihar] prison, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president M. Karunanidhi on Tuesday said that he hoped for the best on November 3 (when the Special Court will pass an order on bail pleas of Ms. Kanimozhi and four others).
At a press conference after returning from New Delhi, Mr. Karunanidhi said that he did not discuss the Kanimozhi issue during his meeting with Ms. Gandhi or Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. “Sonia enquired about Kanimozhi and asked how she was in jail.”
Pointing out that the CBI has not objected to her bail plea, Mr. Karunanidhi, with a broad smile, said the decision of the court was delayed due to Deepavali holidays. “Let us hope for the best.”
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Asked if there was a political reason behind denial of bail, he said: “There is some reason behind anything. I am not sure if there is any political reason behind delaying the bail plea.”
On how Ms. Kanimozhi was coping with life in prison, he said that she was determined and confident but looked weak.
Mr. Karunanidhi recalled that he did not meet Ms. Gandhi the last time he visited New Delhi as she was taking rest. “After hearing that she was feeling well, I met her and asked her to take proper rest.”
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Talks with PM
During his talks with the Prime Minister, Mr. Karunanidhi said that the topic of filling the two vacancies left behind by the resignations of A. Raja and Dayanidhi Maran from the Union Cabinet was not discussed. “Neither of us talked about it. You will come to know,” he quipped.
The DMK president said that he raised the issue of clemency for the three accused in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination with the Prime Minister. “As the trio has spent more than 20 years in prison, the punishment they have suffered is sufficient. I told this to the Prime Minister seeking Centre's help. The Prime Minister gave me a patient hearing but did not give any reply.”
On Kudankulam, Mr. Karunanidhi said that he asked the Prime Minister to ensure the locals were not affected by the implementation of the nuclear power project.
Proper rehabilitation and resettlement of Sri Lankan Tamils and the need to publish the Cauvery tribunal's final award in Gazette of India were impressed upon the Prime Minister, he said.
Local body elections
Contesting alone in the local body elections, the DMK secured 26.09 per cent as against 22.30 per cent votes polled by the party-led alliance in 2011 Assembly elections, Mr. Karunanidhi said. He was not willing to attribute this to leaving out the Congress or an anti-incumbency sentiment.
The DMK's alliance with Congress in future elections would be decided in consultation with high-level leaders [in AICC].
For going it alone in the elections to the local bodies, he blamed the TNCC leadership for failing to take the initiative for an alliance.