The Ceylon News

Chennai, Jan 28: AIADMK leader J Jayalalaithaa on Wednesday rejected Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s invitation to visit the war-ravaged northern parts of his country, and instead asked her political opponent and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to go there.

Rajapaksa had on Tuesday, while meeting visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, invited Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa to Sri Lanka to persuade the Tamil Tiger rebels to lay down arms and enter into the democratic mainstream.

However, the AIADMK supremo told a press conference in Chennai that she is turning down the Sri Lankan President’s offer as she is a staunch opponent of the LTTE and her call for them to lay down arms would not lead to anything.

Taking a dig at the Tamil Nadu CM, Jayalalithaa said that Karunanidhi should visit the neighbouring country as he has always been a staunch supporter and close friend of the LTTE. If the DMK chief makes an offer to Tamil Tigers, they would listen to him, she added.

Jayalalithaa further said that ceasefire in the war-ravaged island nation can be achieved only if LTTE rebels lay down arms.

Karuna threatens to sue Jaya over charge on Lankan relief fund

Describing the AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa's allegation as defamatory that Karunnidhi had "siphoned off" money from the Sri Lankan Relief Fund constituted by the Tamil Nadu government, the Chief Minister today sent a legal notice to her demanding an "unconditional" apology.

The notice, sent on his behalf by Additional Advocate General P Wilson, said Jayalalithaa's statement was "highly defamatory and liable for criminal prosecution and punishable" under different sections of IPC.

"You have accused my client with defamatory malicious statement that it raises doubt in the minds of the people as to whether the funds were appropriated and taken over by the Chief Minister and his family fold. My client has answered as to how the fund is being utilized," Wilson said in the notice.

Having held the position of Chief Minister in the past Jayalalithaa should be "knowing pretty well," about functional aspects of the government in the matter of collection, accounting and utilisation of such funds, the notice said.

"Knowing fully well the entire mechanism involved, you have made such reckless statement with malicious intentions. Your statement is highly defamatory (and) made with the sole purpose of lowering the dignity of my client and also the officials of the state government, in the eyes of the public," the notice said.

If Jayalalithaa does not tender her apology within three days of receipt of the notice "we will have no option except to initiate proceedings for defamation in criminal law and also claim damages," the notice said.