Dump Buta, Hegde, Ram, Jaya tells PM

If they don’t resign, she said, the Prime Minister should drop them to “maintain your ideals as propagated.” However, if the Prime Minister felt that “accusations cannot take the place of proof and should not be the basis to oust the Ministers,” then it was only “legitimate” that the same principle be extended to Muthiah, shesaid.

Incidentally, Jayalalitha had been threatening to send a letter to Vajpayee demanding the dropping of “tainted” ministers and this morning the Prime Minister had remarked in New Delhi that he had received no letter.

Pointing out to Vajpayee that she had directed Muthiah to resign “keeping in view your ideals of good governance and clean administration,” she said that his “swiftness” in accepting Muthiah’s resignation had indicated that he “earnestly desired” to maintain a clean image for the Government.

“But it is rather strange and unfortunate,” she said, “that there has been a failure on your part in adopting the same set of principles with regard to persons who are similarly placed, if not placed in a worse position than Muthiah.”

Elaborating on the alleged charges against Buta Singh, Hegde and Jethmalani, Jayalalitha stated that there were more members in the Union Cabinet “who are facing criminal charges.”

“Apart from the fact that the above incidents should be within yourknowledge based on information, it is also to be mentioned that some MPs have brought the above acts to your notice through letters,” she added.