Karuna ready to lose power on LTTE issue

Piqued by frequent criticism from key ally Congress, accusing the DMK government of not cracking down hard on LTTE supporters, an angry Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today hit back, saying he was prepared to lose power on the issue.

"If you want to dethrone us by levelling false allegations, I am ready to face that change of power in Tamil Nadu," he said at a wedding ceremony of a relative of his associate Shanmuganathan, where Congress leaders, including TNCC president M Krishnasamy were present. Reacting to remarks by Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram at Nagercoil last night, where he reportedly said the LTTE continued to operate in the state and asked the government to "nip the issue in the bud", Karunanidhi said the Congress should not be a party to a conspiracy to topple his government.

"I am the disciple of late C N Annadurai, who gave up his Dravida Nadu (seperate nationhood for Tamils) demand for strengthening the unity of India," he said Karunanidhi listed out his government's efforts to curb LTTE activities, including arrests of members of the outfit and its supporters. He wondered if it was fair on the part of the Congress to have accused him of giving room to the LTTE in Tamil Nadu.

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