Jayalalithaa openly challenges Karunanidhi to join assembly debate

Chennai, Aug 22 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Monday threw a challenge to DMK President M. Karunanidhi to have the "guts" to attend the assembly session and participate in the deliberations.

Replying to the debate on the demands for grant for police and fire and rescue services departments, Jayalalithaa posed: "Whether the DMK leader has the guts to come to the assembly and participate in the deliberations like I did when all the AIADMK members were suspended when DMK was in power."

She pointed out that the DMK leader was not suspended and wondered whether he has the guts to participate in the assembly deliberations.

Jayalalithaa said in 2006, when all the AIADMK members were suspended, she as Leader of Opposition, had put across the party’s views during the discussions.

She added though Leader of Opposition M.K. Stalin was suspended from the assembly, DMK leader Karunanidhi was not suspended and he could have come and participated in the debate.

The DMK members did not participate in the debate as the law and order situation in the state during their rule would have been discussed and they would have anything to say.

Jayalalithaa said during the DMK rule between 2006-2011, people found it difficult even to safeguard their properties as anti-social elements grabbed these by threat and other means.