Ties with BJP: Jaya keeping her options open

Mon, Dec 31 02:52 AM

AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa indicated on Sunday that she was keeping options open for a future electoral alliance with the BJP.

Asked by reporters about her moving closer to the BJP, she, however, retorted: "You can draw your inference."

Jayalalithaa, who has been praising Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his victory in Gujarat, declined to confirm if there would be any official move to clinch ties. But when asked if she was considering the option, she said: "That is an obvious inference."

She said there was nothing unusual about her calling up Modi to congratulate him. "I had attended his swearing-in ceremony last time, too," she said, adding that Modi's success had proved that integrity, good governance and leadership qualities were always appreciated by people. Modi, meanwhile, would be visiting her on January 14, when he would be in Chennai to take part in a function.

On LTTE activities in Tamil Nadu, Jayalalithaa said: "Only God can save Tamil Nadu, if the present infiltration by the LTTE continues."

Alleging that the LTTE was being allowed to carry on "smuggling" essential supplies and arms and explosives, Jayalalithaa said, "Smuggling is just a euphemism as the organisation is openly carrying materials across to Sri Lanka. The Government and the police are merely making claims that they would firmly deal with LTTE supporters."

She said that since the LTTE was becoming "weakening" in Lanka, it was looking at making Tamil Naduits base.

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