Karunanidhi bats for Raja, projects him as Mahabali

Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi on Friday came out in full support of former Telecom Minister A Raja, who was arrested in connection with the 2G spectrum allocation scam.

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) supremo even compared Raja to King Mahabali of Kerala, who, according to legends, was known for his selfless devotion towards the development of his subjects.

?Raja is like King Mahabali. Like the legendary king, Raja, a Shudra (Dalit), too is suffering for his good deeds?and all that because of the upper caste people,? Karunanidhi said at a public rally here.

“The only wrong Raja committed was making mobile phones affordable to millions of poor people. Raja is in jail, I appreciate him on their behalf,” the DMK said.

On Thursday, the ruling DMK held a crucial General Council meeting to discuss latest political situation following the arrest of its leader A Raja and said it will continue to support him.

The DMK also passed a resolution at its General Council meeting on Thursday saying the former Telecom Minister?s arrest doesn?t prove he is guilty.

“DMK is with Raja and Raja is with DMK. The arrest does not mean that he is guilty,? said DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan after the meeting.

Reacting to reports that Raja wants to quit party post, the spokesperson said: ?He (Raja) is the propaganda secretary now, it is on him to continue or not.?

The DMK criticized the Opposition parties, mainly its arch rival J Jayalalithaa?s All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), for maligning its image.

?We have condemned people who have been doing wrong propaganda on this issue. One day truth will be out. Jayalalithaa was also arrested but she is out with a clean image,” said the spokesperson.

The DMK reiterated Raja’s arrest will not affect its ties with the Congress.

Karunanidhi presided over the meeting, which redrew the party?s strategy with the alliance partners keeping in mind the forthcoming Assembly elections in the state.

Raja, who is a popular Dalit leader, is considered very close to Kanimozhi, the daughter of DMK chief M Karunanidhi.

DMK had stood firmly by Raja until the time of his arrest.

In January, Karunanidhi’s son MK Alagiri had demanded that Raja be sacked from the post of the party?s “Propaganda Secretary.”

Meanwhile, India?s main Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed DMK for its decision to back Raja.

“Why only DMK, the Congress is also backing Raja. When the PM keeps silence for two years. Not only DMK, it is the UPA which is supporting Raja,” BJP Spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told reporters.

“Want to see what evidence CBI brings before the court. Otherwise it will be just like that of CWG officials, where they were kept in jail for two months but no chargesheet was filed. And now they were out on bail,” he said.

Raja is accused of criminal conspiracy and using his office as Telecom Minister to benefit a few telecom operators when 2G spectrum licences were being allocated in 2008 for mobile network.

Raja was arrested on Wednesday by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under sections 120B, 13(2), 13(1D) of Prevention of Corruption Act on the charges of criminal conspiracy, abuse of official provision and unduly favouring private companies in the 2G spectrum allocation.

His personal secretary RK Chandolia and Telecom Secretary during his tenure-Siddharth Behuria-were also arrested the same day (Wednesday).

The trio was produced in the court on Thursday.