‘AIADMK in cahoots with BJP’

Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary Sudhakar Reddy on Monday accused the ruling AIADMK of being in cahoots with the BJP.

Addressing mediapersons here, Mr. Reddy contended that the way the AIADMK’s mouthpiece Namadhu Puratchi Thalaivi Amma on Sunday described the party’s relationship with the BJP clearly showed that it was at the behest of the latter that the AIADMK MPs disrupted both Houses of Parliament and prevented the tabling of the no-confidence motion against the Central government. The AIADMK, he alleged, was functioning like a “third-rate agent” of the BJP.

The article in the AIADMK organ stated that the ruling party and the BJP could function as a “double-barrelled gun” in Indian politics.

Mr. Reddy said that though Tamil Nadu was regarded as a rational and progressive-minded State, the AIADMK’s stand ran contrary to that perception.

If the AIADMK was serious about discussing the Cauvery issue and exerting pressure on the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Management Board, it should have signed the no-confidence motion, and during the debate thereon, could have spoken about how the Cauvery issue was a serious and an emotive one for the State. The entire nation would have listened and understood the issue. But the disruption perpetrated by the ruling party in Parliament had only “shamefully exposed what the AIADMK is today – a third-rate agent of the BJP,” Mr. Reddy said, adding that the stand taken by the AIADMK would end up being suicidal for the ruling party.

The CPI was in favour of the recall of Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit. It was high time that the Centre recalled him. If that didn’t happen, Mr. Purohit should do the honourable thing by tendering his resignation, as “a couple of recent issues” have shown him in bad light, Mr. Reddy said, referring to the Aruppukottai audiotape scandal and the row over Mr. Purohit patting a woman journalist.

On Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu’s rejection of the impeachment motion against Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, the CPI leader said that though it was his prerogative, his decision not to consult with experts was unfortunate.