Kanimozhi should not expect any leniency: Jayalalithaa

Kanimozhi should not expect any

leniency: Jayalalithaa

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Tuesday attacked the DMK over the 2G scam case, saying the actions in the case had restored people's faith in the judiciary.

Addressing her first press meet as the state chief minister, Jayalalithaa, who maintained the 2G scam led to the DMK's defeat in the assembly elections, applauded the arrests made in the case. "Due to the steps taken now in the spectrum case, people's faith in the judiciary has been restored," the AIADMK chief said.

Jayalalithaa's remarks come in the wake of arrests of high-profile politicians, including Rajya Sabha MP M.K. Kanimozhi and former telecom minister A. Raja (both from the DMK), DMK-owned Kalaignar TV MD Sharad Kumar and other corporate honchos.

Launching a scathing attack on the DMK first family, the AIADMK chief said the Karunanidhi's daughter, Kanimozhi, who has been in jail for four days now, should not expect any leniency in the 2G scam case.

Power crisis, fuel hike irk Jaya
Having set a three-month deadline to solve the state's power crisis, Jayalalithaa said the issue is being addressed. "We are taking steps to stop power cuts. Soon there will be a change," she said.

The chief minister also expressed her disappointment over the recent petrol price hike. "I condemn the hike in petrol prices. This puts people in trouble…We are taking steps for bringing down the prices," she added. The 14th Tamil Nadu assembly had convened on Monday with newly elected members having been sworn in as members

RAJIVGANDHI'S ASSASINTION

J. Jayalalithaa has reiterated that the DMK was indirectly responsible for former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination in 1991. The Tamil Nadu chief minister said that she has always maintained that DMK was indirectly behind the assassination of the former prime minister. Addressing her first press conference in Chennai after taking over as the chief minister, Jayalalithaa said the DMK ideology influenced the LTTE, adding, she has always lived under death threats since 1991. Jayalalithaa, who was reminded about Padmanathan of the LTTE having said that DMK ideology influenced them to assassinate Rajiv Gandhi and that LTTE, 'if given an opportunity would have assassinated you', said, "Well I have been living with that fear since 1991. Nothing new." When pressed further about the DMK ideology influencing LTTE, Jayalalithaa said, "That has been our basic charge for a long time. We have always said that it was the DMK that was behind Rajiv Gandhi's assassination in an indirect way." In Delhi, Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari said, "We are extremely sensitive about the issue of the assassination of our leader. There should be no attempt to politicise this dastardly event and tragedy of undefinable proportions".