The Hindu : National : AIADMK also demands JPC

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Tuesday, Sep 11, 2007
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AIADMK also demands JPC

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Fissures appeared in the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) on Monday with the key constituent, the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), opting to join the National Democratic Alliance in Parliament in seeking a joint parliamentary committee on the nuclear deal with the United States.

Other constituents, the Samajwadi Party and the Telugu Desam Party, steered clear of the demand in both Houses.

The differences between the AIADMK and the Samajwadi Party (SP) intensified on the day; a day after AIADMK supremo and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa distanced herself from SP leader Amar Singh’s statement that if a JPC was not possible, any other all-party mechanism would be acceptable to the front.

Mr. Singh told journalists that Ms. Jayalalithaa was creating confusion by her statement wondering whether the front existed and if her party remained a part of it.

“Not consulted”

In a statement on Sunday, the AIADMK leader said her party was not consulted by Mr. Singh before he said the UNPA was not insisting on a JPC.

Mr. Singh said his repeated attempts to contact Ms. Jayalalithaa proved futile. However, AIADMK spokesman V. Maitreyan accused the SP leader of playing “dirty tricks.” He said their leader’s stature was such that she need not respond to accusations made by the likes of Mr. Singh.

Mr. Maitreyan told The Hindu: “Mr. Singh has Madam’s personal mobile number and he has been speaking to her on this number ever since the UNPA was formed. However, of late, he has begun calling her personal staff to spea k to her as a result of which she has not been able to take his calls. Why is he calling her through her office staff when he has her personal number?”

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