BJP, Left lock horns over Jayalalitha issue

NEW DELHI, FEB 8: The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Left parties were at opposing ends of the spectrum over the Government's decision to...

NEW DELHI, FEB 8: The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Left parties were at opposing ends of the spectrum over the Government8217;s decision to transfer corruption cases against All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam AIADMK chief J Jayalalitha from special courts to regular courts.

While the BJP tried to play down the decision saying it was not aimed at bailing out Jayalalitha, the Left parties described the step as an arbitrary act to soften the AIADMK leader8217;s attitude to an embattled coalition government.

BJP spokesman M Venkaiah Naidu8217;s defence was that no cases had been withdrawn against Jayalalitha, and the Government was well within its right under the Prevention of Corruption Act to decide on which court to transfer the cases to.

But the two Left parties were scathing in their attack of the BJP. The Communist Party of India Marxist said the arbitrary manner in which the Government was acting showed the quot;unprincipledquot; nature of the decision.

Demanding immediate withdrawal of the governmentnotification, the CPI M said the cases against Jayalalitha were in various stages of trial and the Chennai High Court had ruled that the constitution of the special courts by the State Government was in order. Additionally, the Supreme Court had refused to stay proceedings in these courts, a statement issued by the CPI M politbureau said.

The CPI attacked the quot;hastequot; with which the Centre has issued the notifications, showing its eagerness to bail out Jayalalitha and protect itself from her quot;wrathquot;.

CPI national secretary D Raja said the transfer of the cases revealed that the BJP was completely unprincipled when it came to saving its chair.Reacting to the criticism that the BJP was trying to bail out Jayalalitha, Venkaiah Naidu asked, quot;Why should we save her at all?quot;

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Asked by journalists whether the notifications were issued following the AIADMK leader8217;s refusal to sign the joint statement of constituents of BJP-led coalition on not airing differences in public, Naidu said the decision had nothingto do with Jayalalitha8217;s attitude. quot;There is no political motive or interferencequot;, he declared.

quot;No case against Jayalalitha has been withdrawn and this decision will not affect the trial,quot; the BJP spokesman said.

Referring to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi8217;s decision to legally challenge the central notifications, Naidu said, quot;He is free to go to court. But Karunanidhi should reply to charges that he was trying to harass his political rivalsquot;