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Jaya keeps her options open

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham supremo J Jayalalitha today kept her options open about future poll alliances including a tie-up with the Congress, and in a tactical move chose to remain non-committal on Sonia Gandhi's foreign credentials which she had questioned in the past.

Jayalalitha, who had stated publicly that a foreigner like Sonia cannot hold the office of the prime minister, in a volte face said she would not answer any question regarding the Congress president.

''I will not answer any question regarding Sonia Gandhi today,'' the AIADMK leader said in reply to a question whether she still maintained her earlier stance that a foreigner like Sonia cannot preside over the destiny of the country.

Replying to a pointed question whether her party would tie up with the Congress or the Tamil Maanila Congress in case of the fall of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, she said, ''I am keeping all options open as a good strategist.''

She, however, was categorical there was no threat to the Vajpayee government and that her support would continue as long as the government stuck to its pro-people policies and worked for the welfare of the weaker sections of society.

The AIADMK supremo asserted that she had never issued threats to the Vajpayee government as was being made out frequently by the media.

Her ''firm and courageous moves to fight for the rights of the state'' were often misinterpreted by the fourth estate.

''The media has been unkind to me in the past but has now become kind and says that I have softened my stand vis-a-vis the Vajpayee government indicating that both the intrepretations were off the mark,'' she said.

Refuting the reports that her obstinacy led to the postponement of the much-awaited Cabinet expansion, Jayalalitha said, ''Unfortunately I have become everybody's favourite whipping girl. I am not the reason and don't blame me and ask the prime minister about the postponement.

''I have had discussions with the prime minister about the Cabinet expansion and reshuffle of portfolios but that is a matter between me and him and I need not disclose it at any other forum,'' she said in reply to questions on whether her demand for more ministerial berths led to the postponement.

Asked whether her party would support the move to send back to the President the Union Cabinet's earlier recommendation to dismiss the Rabri Devi government in Bihar, Jayalalitha said it was possible only if the Centre acceded to her demand for sacking of the Karunanidhi government in Tamil Nadu.

To another question, she said the allies were not consulted by the central government which took the decision to impose president's rule in bihar.

Stating that the question of AIADMK joining the third front mooted by the Left parties did not arise at the moment, Jayalalitha, however, clarified that her party had no ideological convergence with the Bharatiya Janata Party. ''What we have with the BJP is purely a seat adjustment,'' she added.

''The AIADMK's secular credentials are above board and it would stick to the Dravidian identity,'' she said adding that her party had asked the BJP to keep the Ayodhya issue in deep freeze for at least 25 years and concentrate on catering to basic needs of the people like providing drinking water, electricity and roads to villages and generation of employment.

Jayalalitha said she had no intention to emerge as a rival power centre in the coalition government.

''Such an intention is far from my thought,'' she said in reply to a question relating to the alleged 'big brother attitude' of the BJP at a media meet in New Delhi.

Referring to the tea party she hosted yesterday for the BJP and its allies, she said, ''This move to gather all allies is only intended to foster a spirit of co-operation to enable the government to function more efficiently.

''It is not certainly aimed at making it difficult for the government,'' she clarified.

Denying that her decision to invite the BJP to the tea party at the last moment was due to pressure, she said the gathering was meant only for the allies.

But once she realised that leaving out the BJP was creating a controversy, she decided to invite that party also, she said.

Turning her attention to the nuclear issue, she said India should not sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty in haste.

Replying to a question, she said Vajpayee had not consulted her party or the other BJP allies on the question of signing the CTBT.

To another query, Jayalalitha said the government could function smoothly only if there were frequent consultations between the BJP and its allies.

She also demanded a constitutional amendment to empower the Centre to order a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry in cases involving national security such as the serial blasts in Coimbatore even without any request from the states concerned.

She alleged that about 200 terrorists trained in Afghanistan 'are roaming about' in Tamil Nadu and other southern states and that Saudi billionaire and international terrorist leader Osama bin Laden perhaps 'had a hidden hand' in the Coimbatore blasts.

This had come to light following the recent arrest and interrogation of a Coimbatore blasts suspect from Hyderabad, the former Tamil Nadu chief minister said.

The suspect had confessed that Osama bin Laden was recently in Hyderabad and that he (suspect) had received training in arms and ammunition in Afghanistan for six months.

Besides the Tamil Nadu government, the governments of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka should be dismissed if they were found to have encouraged terrorists, Jayalalitha said in reply to a question.

In view of the 'startling information,' it was high time the central government took serious action to counter the activities of bin Laden.

Jayalalitha said she had brought all this to the notice of Vajpayee, Home Minister Lal Kishinchand Advani and Defence Minister George Fernandes.

Advani was ''most concerned. He did take the matter seriously and promised to inquire into the matter thoroughly.''

UNI

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