Rahul says DMK very much Congress partner

Tiruchirapalli/Sivaganga, May 8 (PTI) Rahul Gandhi Friday
sought to placate his party's sulking partner in the southern
state of Tamil Nadu, saying the Dravida Munnetra Kazhgham
(DMK) was very much its ally and the Congress would work with
it in the state and rest of India to win the elections.

Rahul, whose remarks on Jayalalithaa at a press conference
in Delhi a few days ago were interpreted as overtures to the
All India Anna Dravida Munetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) for a
post-poll tie-up, addressed election meetings here in which he
also wished DMK supremo M Karunanidhi a speedy recovery.

"We are part of an alliance. We are fighting the
elections with partner DMK," he said at a meeting in support
Congress candidate P Chidambaram in Sivaganga.

Addressing another meeting in Tiruchirapalli, Rahul said
the Congress and DMK were going to work together to win the
Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu and the rest of the country.

"In the coming election, our alliance which is very
strong is going to win here," he said.

"I understand that Mr Karunanidhi is not well. I wish him
a speedy recovery," Rahul added.

A day after Rahul's press conference in Delhi, Congress
President Sonia Gandhi cancelled her visit to Chennai for a
joint public meeting with the DMK chief M Karunanidhi,
fuelling speculation that all is not well with the alliance.

However, the Congress legislature party leader in Tamil
Nadu D Sudarsanam announced Friday that Sonia Gandhi and
Karunanidhi would share a platform on Sunday in Chennai.

Referring to the Sri Lankan Tamil issue, a major plank of
political parties in Tamil Nadu, Rahul said the UPA government
has taken "all steps possible" to mitigate the sufferings of
the Tamils in the island.

"We have put tremendous pressure on the Sri Lankan
government to protect the interest of Tamils by sending
ministers and senior officials to that country."

He said Tamils in Sri Lanka have certain rights and they
need to be given those rights by the Sri Lankan government.

"Prime minister Manmohan singh and the UPA government will
stand by the Tamil people regardless of where they are," he
said.

Describing Tamil Nadu as the nation's pride, Rahul said:
"It is a state which is growing fast and very successfully.
The state is doing well because of the people... I admire the
spirit of the Tamils."

The Congress leader recounted that the party promised a
government of poor people in 2004 and delivered on that
promise. "I don't want to create 'Two Indias'. I don't want
one India which is rich and shiny, and the other which is
poor. I want only one india which is rich and shiny". PTI
Corr
DEP
NNNN