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AIADMK 'hardens' stance against BJP

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham appears to have hardened its stance against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre, going by the tone set by party deputy general secretary K Kalimuthu at the party's general council meeting in Madras today.

Kalimuthu, who spoke first in the presence of party general secretary J Jayalalitha, mounted a scathing attack on the BJP.

"Those who do not respect Jayalalitha, whatever high position they may occupy (apparently referring to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee), will not be acceptable to the party," he thundered.

Kalimuthu asserted that Jayalalitha had every right to question the sacking of naval chief Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat. This seems to indicate that the AIADMK would take a stand similar to that of the Congress and other Opposition parties on the issue.

He singled out Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazagham general secretary Vaiko and Union ministers P R Kumaramangalam and Vazhapadi K Ramamurthy for a virulent attack.

Jayalalitha, who will speak in the evening, is expected to announce her party's stand on the issue.

UNI

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