Chennai: BJP took potshots at DMK for attempting to ‘convert’ the birthday party of its party chief M. Karunanidhi into a “platform for meeting of Opposition party leaders” and dared DMK working president M.K. Stalin to invite the ruling AIADMK and the BJP to prove the event was above politics.
Contending that not inviting BJP for the birthday celebration in Chennai next month was not at all an issue but the way the event is being organised indicated that DMK has an agenda in bringing all the Opposition party leaders on a common platform.
“Mr Karunanidhi is a leader who has good rapport with all leaders. Let Stalin invite the ruling AIADMK and the BJP and prove that there is no hidden agenda,” BJP state president Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan said.
A host of leaders including Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, CPI’s D. Raja, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, JD (S) leader and former prime minister H. D. Deve Gowda, have been invited for the celebrations.
Speaking to reporters, Dr Tamilisai condemned the shocking treatment meted out by officials to students appearing for Neet and said “they should learn to trust students.”
“I feel the officials have gone overboard in their anti-cheating drive. This kind of treatment should stop and they should change their approach towards the students,” she said.
Bomb attack condemned: Meanwhile, BJP condemned the ‘bomb’ attack on the house of its functionary Muthuraman in Devakottai in Sivagangai district in the state and demanded stern action on those responsible for hurling the bomb.
The attacks on BJP leaders in TN have been continuing unabated and none of the culprits has been nabbed so far, a senior leader claimed.
