Chennai:
A day after DMK Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi was arrested in connection with the 2G scam case, party boss M Karunanidhi has come out strongly in support of his daughter.
In a letter addressed to party workers, Karunanidhi has said sending Kanimozhi and Kalaignar TV Managing Director Sharath Kumar to jail is a violation of the law. He also said there's a vendetta against the DMK from Kanyakumari to the Himalayas, and that the party will win the war.
Karunanidhi will come to Delhi on Monday and will visit his daughter. He's also likely to meet Sonia Gandhi. Sources have told NDTV, DMK ministers will skip the dinner tonight, being hosted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to mark the second anniversary of UPA II, but it's likely that DMK MP TR Baalu will attend the dinner.
According to sources, the reason for ministers' absence from the dinner is because the party is in no mood to celebrate.
Sounding almost crestfallen after his daughter Kanimozhi's arrest, 87-year-old Karunanidhi had told reporters, "I am in a position like any other father who has a daughter and was arrested for no fault of hers." Kanimozhi is largely believed to be his favourite child. (Watch: Sad about Kanimozhi's arrest, says Karunanidhi)
The pall of gloom that has descended over the party is understandable. Already reeling under the rout in the recently-concluded Assembly elections, Kanimozhi's arrest proved to be a double whammy for the party.
Something that, according to sources in the DMK, has divided the party over continuing its alliance with the Congress. Some in the party feel that ties with the Congress should be snapped as they view Kanimozhi's arrest as its ally's political strategy.
Others, however, feel that the alliance with Congress is needed.
With Jayalalithaa back in power in Tamil Nadu and given the history of vendetta politics in the state, the the pro-alliance group feels the need for some presence at the Centre.
However, when asked whether Kanimozhi's arrest would have an impact on the future relations between the DMK and the Congress, Karunanidhi avoided a direct reply and said "DMK will have good relations with all parties." He added that the party's General Council will meet "as and when necessary" and that he "cannot take a decision on my own on this."
Karunanidhi is scheduled to come to New Delhi on Monday alongwith senior leaders of his party. Sources say that the main purpose of his visit is to meet his daughter who is now in jail.
For the 87-year-old, often called the Chanakya of Dravidian politics, it could be a tightrope walk as a party chief steering its future and as a father whose daughter is in jail.
In a letter addressed to party workers, Karunanidhi has said sending Kanimozhi and Kalaignar TV Managing Director Sharath Kumar to jail is a violation of the law. He also said there's a vendetta against the DMK from Kanyakumari to the Himalayas, and that the party will win the war.
Karunanidhi will come to Delhi on Monday and will visit his daughter. He's also likely to meet Sonia Gandhi. Sources have told NDTV, DMK ministers will skip the dinner tonight, being hosted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to mark the second anniversary of UPA II, but it's likely that DMK MP TR Baalu will attend the dinner.
According to sources, the reason for ministers' absence from the dinner is because the party is in no mood to celebrate.
Sounding almost crestfallen after his daughter Kanimozhi's arrest, 87-year-old Karunanidhi had told reporters, "I am in a position like any other father who has a daughter and was arrested for no fault of hers." Kanimozhi is largely believed to be his favourite child. (Watch: Sad about Kanimozhi's arrest, says Karunanidhi)
The pall of gloom that has descended over the party is understandable. Already reeling under the rout in the recently-concluded Assembly elections, Kanimozhi's arrest proved to be a double whammy for the party.
Something that, according to sources in the DMK, has divided the party over continuing its alliance with the Congress. Some in the party feel that ties with the Congress should be snapped as they view Kanimozhi's arrest as its ally's political strategy.
Others, however, feel that the alliance with Congress is needed.
With Jayalalithaa back in power in Tamil Nadu and given the history of vendetta politics in the state, the the pro-alliance group feels the need for some presence at the Centre.
However, when asked whether Kanimozhi's arrest would have an impact on the future relations between the DMK and the Congress, Karunanidhi avoided a direct reply and said "DMK will have good relations with all parties." He added that the party's General Council will meet "as and when necessary" and that he "cannot take a decision on my own on this."
Karunanidhi is scheduled to come to New Delhi on Monday alongwith senior leaders of his party. Sources say that the main purpose of his visit is to meet his daughter who is now in jail.
For the 87-year-old, often called the Chanakya of Dravidian politics, it could be a tightrope walk as a party chief steering its future and as a father whose daughter is in jail.
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