Home Dalit Raja targeted because he is Dalit: Karunanidhi

Raja targeted because he is Dalit: Karunanidhi

By IANS,

New Delhi: DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi Monday denied the allegations against Communications and IT Minister A. Raja over the 2G spectrum allocation saying he was being targeted because he was a Dalit.

“Dominant forces are creating a big issue because Raja is a Dalit,” Karunanidhi said. He was speaking to reporters after meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his 7, Race Course Road, residence.

The spectrum scam has been creating a furore in parliament since last week after a newspaper report on the tapping of phone conversations between a high-profile lobbyist and public relations firm owner and Raja alleged wrongdoing in the allocation of 2G spectrum.

However, it was not known whether the controversy surrounding the union minister figured in Karunanidhi’s meeting with Manmohan Singh.

The chief minister Sunday ruled out Raja’s resignation as demanded by opposition parties.

Karunanidhi who is here on a three-visit, Monday also met Congress president and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi at her 10, Janpath residence.

The DMK chief said he discussed the issue of women’s reservation bill with Gandhi in their 30-minute meeting. “I told Sonia Gandhi that steps should be taken to pass the bll in the Lok Sabha as soon as possible,” he said.

He was accompanied by his daughter-MP Kanimozhi and grand nephew and union Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran.