Karunanidhi backs Kanimozhi's role as a party worker

Chennai, Apr 27 (ANI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief M. Karunanidhi backing his daughter Kanimozhi, named in the CBI chargesheet in the 2G spectrum scam, on Wednesday said that he views her as a party worker and that her growth in the party had nothing to do with the 'daughter tag'.

Talking to reporters after the party high-level meeting, Karunanidhi said: "I view Kanimozhi as a party worker. None should consider that she grew (in the party) just because she is my daughter."

"Today she was hesitant to come to this meeting since hundreds of media persons were waiting outside her residence to ask many questions. Therefore, I myself went and brought her here. I am not doing this to save my daughter but to save the party's image," he added.

Earlier, in a statement, the party said that they decided to legally fight the accusations of corruption against Kanimozhi on 2G spectrum scam issue.

The statement also added that the party is surprised that Kanimozhi has been named in the CBI's second chargesheet.

It was also alleged that the whole issue is being used by some parties to weaken the confidence among UPA allies and break the alliance.

Kanimozhi has been named as 'co-conspirator' in the scam, bringing the party's first family in sharp focus for the first time.

The supplementary chargesheet also named as co-accused Sharad Kumar of Kalaignar TV, Karim Morani of Cineyug Films, and Asif Balwa and Rajiv B Agarwal of Kusegaon Realty.

The supplementary charge, however, did not name Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M Karunanidhi's wife Dayalu Ammal as an accused but mentioned her as one of the witnesses in the case.

The new development has put additional strain on the DMK-Congress ties in a span of just two months after the DMK threatened to pull out its ministers over seat-sharing talks for Tamil Nadu Assembly polls.

Party sources have said DMK was unlikely to do anything to precipitate matters with Congress, particularly at a time when results of the April 13 Assembly polls are to be announced on May 13.

This was the second meeting of the DMK leadership in two months.

In March, the DMK had convened a meeting of its leadership when the party decided to snap its seven year alliance with the Congress and asked its ministers to quit the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. (ANI)