Chennai: In signs of growing trouble for the BJP-led NDA alliance in Tamil Nadu, MDMK Chief Vaiko hit out at two BJP leaders for criticizing him over his remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also questioned the PM's silence over the matter.
While BJP leader Subramanian Swamy had said that the MDMK should be thrown out of the NDA alliance in the state, his party colleague H Raja had allegedly threatened Vaiko for criticizing the PM over several issues.
"I don't think Swamy and Raja are the only representatives of the party. But I'm pained that even Amit Shah and Modi, he's a big leader and I'm a small person, did not even condemn this," Vaiko, 70, said on Thursday.
There is intense speculation that the MDMK is reconsidering its alliance with the BJP and a call on the matter is likely to be taken on Monday. "I can't comment on this now," was Vaiko's response when questioned on that possibility.
BJP National Secretary H Raja had allegedly threatened Mr Vaiko to stop criticizing PM Modi failing which, he said, BJP workers knew how to control him.
"We never deny MDMK's democratic rights. But we won't tolerate continuous attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Raja had told reporters.
Vaiko had earlier blamed the Centre for the death sentence awarded by a court in Sri Lanka to five Tamil Nadu fishermen, who were subsequently released last month after PM Modi spoke to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa over the matter which had triggered huge protests in the state. Vaiko had also reportedly criticised the Prime Minister for greeting Rajapaksa at the recently-concluded SAARC summit in Nepal.
