Chennai: Dismissing reports that a few ministers spoke to sacked party general secretary V.K. Sasikala after she came out on parole, fisheries minister D. Jayakumar on Wednesday said the entire AIADMK is resolute in the decision taken to keep her and her family out of the government and the outfit.
“I cannot reply to such questions which are based on speculation. No one will ever do the act (of talking to Sasikala) and no one even has such intentions. Everyone is adhering and will adhere to the decision taken (to keep Sasikala and her family out of government and party),” Jayakumar told reporters here.
He was responding to questions on reports that more than half a dozen ministers had contacted Sasikala over phone after she came out on paro-le on Friday. Jayakumar also said the government headed by Edappadi K. Palaniswami was “strong” and none can destablise the dispensation.
The minister also rejected the Opposition charge that the government has “protected” health minister C. Vijayabhaskar and top police officials by not naming them in a FIR filed by DVAC officials in the gutka scam. “The 17 people who have been named in the FIR had some role in the scam and they have been named. There is no cover up or eyewash. There is no need to hide anything,” he said.
Responding to questions on rebel leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran threatening to drag Speaker P. Dhanapal to courts on the disqualification of 18 MLAs owing allegiance to him, Jayakumar said Dhinakaran should not spread canards against someone who is holding a constitutional post.
“He should not speak in a rude manner about the Speaker. Dhinakaran should remember that he is speaking about a person who is holding constitutional post. Dhinakaran should show respect towards him,” Jayakumar said.
Dhinakaran had on Monday attacked Speaker Dhanapal for disqualifying 18 MLAs supporting him without any basis and said though Speaker enjoys absolute powers inside the House, he should respect courts and law since he is also citizen of the country.
Sasikala to be back in Bangalore jail today
Sacked AIADMK general secretary V.K. Sasikala will report back to Parapana Agrahara jail authorities by Thursday evening after her five-day parole ended on Wednesday. Sasikala, currently serving four-year jail term in the disproportionate assets case, was released on parole on Friday to meet her husband M. Natarajan, who has undergone liver and kidney transplantations.
The long-time aide of late J. Jayalalithaa was asked to report back at the jail by Thursday 5 pm. Sasikala had been meeting her husband Natarajan at the ICU of the Gleneagles Global Health City here since Saturday.
