TAMBARAM: The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) leader, Vaiko, on Tuesday charged Chief Minister Jayalalithaa with failing to uphold political decency and culture by not receiving Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the Chennai airport, during his recent visit to the city.

"Her act is undemocratic and is a result of `arrogance of power' and she ignored even the basic protocol of receiving the Prime Minister. Apart from staying away from the inaugural function of the National Institute of Siddha in which the Prime Minister took part, she had issued a statement demanding that the Sethusamudram project be stopped citing concern over the livelihood of fishermen and environment," the MDMK leader said.

Categorically saying that neither the fishermen's livelihood would be at risk nor would the environment be damaged, Mr. Vaiko said Ms. Jayalalithaa was trying to create a sense of fear among fishermen. Pointing out that Sethusamudram was a dream project of many leaders, including the former Chief Ministers, Arignar Anna, Kamaraj and M.G. Ramachandran, Mr. Vaiko said that by attempting to stop the project, the Chief Minister had betrayed the interests of the people of Tamil Nadu.

Stating that all constituent parties of the Democratic People's Alliance would fight unitedly to put an end to the `fascist' rule, Mr. Vaiko predicted that the outcome in the next year's Assembly elections would be on the lines of the results of the Lok Sabha elections held in the State.

The by-election results in Kancheepuram and Gummidipoondi turned in the ruling party's favour owing to its money power and because the government had abused its power.

On whether there would be a coalition rule next year, Mr. Vaiko said the people of Tamil Nadu always voted for a single-party rule. "We too are not thinking on those lines," he said. The DPA headed by M. Karunanidhi would fight to put an end to the present regime.

Mr. Vaiko said the AIADMK government was using the police force to settle political scores and to take vindictive action against those opposed to it, adding his party men were not even permitted to hoist flags or erect banners on road sides to welcome the Prime Minister, while the ruling party members had put up giant banners. Mr. Vaiko was talking to reporters after a party function at Ambedkar Marriage Hall in West Tambaram where he received Rs. 51 lakhs collected as part of a fund mobilisation drive embarked upon by the party in the run-up to the Assembly elections.

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