Reinstate Bezbaruah, 17 others: Jaya

CHENNAI, Aug 16 (PTI, UNI) — Stepping up her war of attrition against the BJP-led government at the Centre, AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha today alleged that persons very close to the Prime Minister were paid "hefty bribes" to get Enforcement Director M. K. Bezbaruah transferred for which she was blamed and demanded cancellation of transfers of Bezbaruah and 17 other top officials including Revenue Secretary N.K. Singh.

Jayalalitha, who is on a war-path having threatened to review support of the AIADMK and its allies to the BJP-led coalition on the Cauvery issue, alleged that attempts were being made to put the blame on her for the transfers to make her a "scapegoat to appease some quarters who are anxious to cover some vested interests who are the real culprits behind this whole farcical exercise."

She demanded re-instatement of Bezbaruah as chief of Enforcement Directorate and cancellation of transfers of all other top officials announced on Friday, including Finance Secretary Montek Singh Ahluwalia saying these were effected "without the consent" of Union Minister of State for Personnel Kadambur M.R. Janardhanam, AIADMK nominee in the Ministry.

Jayalalitha said she had written to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee seeking cancellation of the transfers as these were effected without even Janardhanam being consulted.

She alleged that press barons of a well-known publications group had paid hefty bribes to persons very close to Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee to get Mr Bezbaruah out of the Enforcement Directorate.

"It is no secret that the owners of a well known group of publications have been facing several FERA cases against them. Mr Bezbaruah was pursuing those cases very vigorously and the newspaper barons had to undergo imprisonment repeatedly", she said.

She alleged that owners of a well known group of publications who had been facing several FERA cases were behind the transfer of Mr Bezbaruah and that these newspaper owners paid hefty bribes to persons close to the Prime Minister to get him transferred.

"They cleverly exploited the present situation to their advantage by making it appear that I had demanded Mr Bezbaruah’s transfer and achieved their objective by pinning the blame on me," she charged.

"There are no FERA cases against me. Some of my associates are facing FERA cases, but they are facing them legally in courts. I did not lay down any condition in this regard. My name has been unnecessarily besmirched and I am being blamed in the national media for something with which I am in no way involved", she said.

The AIADMK supremo reiterated that she did not speak about such matters to Mr George Fernandes and Mr Pramod Mahajan when they met her here. She said she did not broach any subject other than the Cauvery water dispute at the meeting. Even Mr Fernandes himself had stated that no such issues were discussed during the meeting, she added.

Stepping up her war of attrition against the BJP-led government at the Centre, Ms Jayalalitha alleged that persons close to the Prime Minister were paid ‘hefty bribes’ to get Mr Bezbaruah transferred, for which she was blamed and demanded cancellation of transfers of Mr Bezbaruah and 17 other top officials.

Ms Jayalalitha, who is on a warpath having threatened to review support of the AIADMK and its allies to the BJP-led coalition on the Cauvery issue, alleged that attempts were being made to put the blame on her for the transfers to make her a "scapegoat to appease some quarters who are anxious to cover some vested interests who are the real culprits behind this whole farcical exercise."

Ms Jayalalitha continued to maintain her enigmatic silence on the issue of withdrawing AIADMK front’s support to the Vajpayee government over the Cauvery issue.

Barring a lengthy statement from her today, disclaiming any role in the transfer of Enforcement Director M.K. Bezbaruah and other central government officials, the AIADMK camp showed no ostensible signs of taking any dramatic decision on the withdrawal of support to the government.

With important leaders of her alliance like Mr Vazhapadi Ramamurthy (Tamizhaga Rajiv Congress), Mr Subramanian Swamy (Janata Party) and Mr Vaiko (MDMK) away from the city, there was a lull in political activity.

Charge denied

NEW DELHI, Aug 16 (PTI) — The government today denied AIADMK leader Jayalalitha’s charge that "persons very close to Prime Minister" have been paid "hefty bribes" for transfer of M.K. Bezbaruah from the Enforcement Directorate saying it was unfortunate and baseless.

Responding to queries on Jayalalitha’s allegations, official sources said administrative reshuffle in government is a normal exercise.

DMK may back BJP govt

MADURAI, Aug 16 (UNI, PTI) — Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) President M. Karunanidhi today indicated that his party was not averse to reconsidering its stand on the question of extending support to the BJP government at the Centre in the event of the AIADMK withdrawing its support.

Answering to a question on the possibility of the AIADMK withdrawing its support on the Cauvery waters issue and the DMK extending support to the Vajpayee government, Mr Karunanidhi, talking to newsmen here said his party had no idea what the AIADMK would do.

There was no question of the DMK extending support to the BJP government under the present circumstances. If there was to be a change in the party’s stand, this had to be decided by the party’s executive and the general council, he said.

Mr Karunanidhi said there was no question of supporting the BJP government as soon as the AIADMK withdrew support.

Mr Karunanidhi did not react when his comments were sought on the Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee sending Central ministers and other BJP leaders as emissaries to pacify Ms Jayalalitha despite his reported statement that he would not compromise on principles.

The Chief Minister, however, said that Prime Minister had been very firm on the Cauvery waters issue and he respected him for that.

On Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee’s assertion from the ramparts of the Red Fort that he would not bow before anybody to stay in power, Mr Karunanidhi said he appreciated the fact that Mr Vajpayee had not buckled under pressure of anyone in respect of reaching an agreement on the Cauvery issue but he would not like to go into other matters.

Referring to President K.R. Narayanan’s Independence Day remarks on politicians transgressing democratic norms, Mr Karunanidhi said: "The President has given the right advice at the appropriate time. Corrupt politicians and those supporting them in some way or the other should take the President’s advice in the right spirit and mend their ways."

Regarding the Mullaperiyar dam issue, the Chief Minister said the ministerial-level talks between Kerala and Tamil Nadu, held recently, had agreed to form a committee of engineers from both states to inspect the dam.

Further talks on the issue at the Chief Ministers' level would be held based on the recommendations of the committee, which was expected to submit its report in a month. The date of the meeting would be fixed after September 13, he said.

On the crisis being faced by the cotton mills in the state, Mr Karunanidhi said the problem should be attended to by the Centre. He said he had mentioned about the crisis to the Planning Commission and had even suggested that the funds allocated for the purpose be disbursed.

He said the state Handloom Minister and the Labour Minister also had held discussions with central ministers in this regard.