With a public stance of zero tolerance towards corruption, the Congress on Wednesday defended its decision of giving support to Kanimozhi, an accused in the 2G spectrum scam, for Rajya Sabha elections on the ground that it has extended support to the DMK and not her as an individual.
Defending DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi’s daughter, Congress spokesperson Sandeep Dikshit said that nothing has been proven against Kanimozhi. He said that going to jail in the 2G spectrum scam has not proved her guilty as Kanimozhi is just an accused in the case. However, Sandeep failed to explain that if going jail is not proof of guilt, then why A Raja was removed as the Telecom Minister by the UPA Government.
He, however, justified the support to Kanimozhi in the polls, which will be held on Thursday, on the ground that the decision has been taken by the central leadership of the Congress in consultation with the local unit on the basis of prevailing political situation. Sidestepping the morality issue, the Congress spokesperson said that in the coalition era the decision to support DMK was taken in view of various factors.
However, he tried to play down reports that the Congress has supported DMK with the expectation that the Dravidian party would reciprocate by forming alliance with it in the lok Sabha polls. “Don’t read too much into it. If in future any coalition happens, it will be decided in future by the Antony Committee,” he said.
He denied reports of rift within the Tamil Nadu unit of the Congress over giving support to DMK candidate instead of DMDK’s A R Elangovan in the biennial election for the Rajya Sabha. Dikshit said that some of the party MlAs may have different views but once the decision has been taken by the High Command everyone will fall in line and support it.