PM-Jayalalithaa meet only a courtesy call: M Venkaiah Naidu

Dismissing the Congress’ claim that the meeting showed that there was a secret pact between the AIADMK and the BJP for the Assembly elections due for next year, Mr Venkaiah told reporters here on Sunday that it was the habit of the Congress to have a secret pact.

“We (the BJP) don’t have any such habit. It was courtesy meeting and I don’t understand why Congress is worried over the Prime Minister meeting the Chief Minister,” he said in reply to a question.

Though he was yet to speak to the Prime Minister on the meeting he felt there was nothing wrong in a Prime Minister calling on a Chief Minister and that it was always good if the Prime Minister meets CMs.

“Mr Chidambaram is a very intelligent man. National Handloom Day is very small for him though he is standing on ‘hand’ symbol (of the Congress). He couldn’t get people’s hand. They gave him a hand. And he is going to have brand now,” he ridiculed when sought for his reaction on the Congress leader criticising on the event.

“One must be happy and welcome it rather than make such political sarcastic comment on August 7 which was declared as National Handloom Day marking the Swadeshi Movement,” he added.

On the demand for implementing total prohibition in the state, Mr. Venkaiah said any unilateral decision on this issue would not succeed.

“People should come forward and protest. Only if they protest in a big level, the government will bow to their pressure,” he added. Meanwhile, BJP’s state president Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan slammed TNCC chief E.V.K.S. Elangovan for his comments on Mr Modi’s meeting with Ms. Jayalalithaa and sought to know why Congress was bothered with whom the BJP entered into alliance. “Congress is afraid of BJP’s growth. His comments are needless and unwarranted,” she said.