Chennai, Sep 17: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today said her support to Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi's fast was an “expression of goodwill” and dismissed suggestions about a change in the political dynamics behind her gesture.
“Narendra Modi has announced that he's going on a fast for communal harmony and peace and unity.. This is also in line with our policy of secularism and maintaining communal harmony and peace”, Jayalalithaa told reporters here. The AIADMK chief, who has deputed her party Parliamentary leaders M Thambidurai and V Maitreyan to be present at the fast, said Modi spoke to her over phone and requested her to send somebody to felicitate him at the fast. “Not at all.. You are reading too much into it..” Jayalalithaa said when asked whether her support indicated a change in political dynamics.
“This is just an expression of goodwill and there is nothing to find fault with this fast because it is for the expressed purpose of maintaining communal peace and harmony—fostering communal peace and harmony,” she said.
Asked whether she would back Modi as a Prime Ministerial candidate in 2014, Jayalalithaa said it was a hypothetical question and would answer “when such a situation arises”. Modi and Jayalalithaa share good vibes and the BJP leader had attended the swearing-in ceremony of the AIADMK leader when she took over as Chief Minister in May this year. Replying to a question on the latest petrol price hike, the Chief Minister said she had already condemned the increase and demanded its roll back.
Asked whether the Karnataka High Court direction to Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption not to undertake further probe into the disproportionate assets case against her was a setback, she said, “Not at all. Our lawyers are handling the case well and I have reposed my confidence in them”.
To a query whether she would appear in court on October 20,Jayalalithaa said, “It is nothing new for me. I don't view it as a setback because I have appeared in court on so many occasions in the past. I have appeared in various courts. So it is nothing new for me”. PTI
