Jayalalithaa accuses Karunanidhi of doublespeak on Tamils issue

CHENNAI: Taking a potshot at arch rival DMK chief M Karunanidhi on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today said while he had demanded that India should not take part in the CHOGM, he kept mum on Lankan cricketers playing in an IPL team owned by his family.

Replying to a special mention on Sri Lankan Tamils in the assembly, she said an IPL team participating in the event was the Sunrisers IPL team which was owned by the Sun Group of Kalanidhi Maran, grand nephew of Karunanidhi.

"The team's captain is Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara who has been chosen by the Sun Group. Another Sri Lankan cricketer Thisara Perera is also part of this team", Jayalalithaa said, asking how did Karunanidhi permit this.

She charged Karunanidhi with creating a feeling of supporting the Lankan Tamils on one side and on the other maintaining relations with the Congress-led government at the Centre which is bent upon extending support to Sri Lanka.

"Karunanidhi, who had revived the TESO, demanded that India should not take part in the CHOGM, but remained silent on Sri Lankan players in the team owned by his family. This is the height of selfishness", Jayalalithaa said, accusing the DMK chief of "doublespeak" on the sensitive issue.

Referring to IPL Governing Council decision that Lankan players will not participate in IPL League matches in Chennai, she said "this is a big victory to the emotional involvement of my government on the Sri Lankan Tamils".