Too early to talk of an alliance with AIADMK, says Venkaiah Naidu

Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu on Friday reacted cautiously to media queries over the BJP’s possibilities of an alliance with the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, which is in the throes of a leadership vacuum following the demise of party supremo and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

“It is too early to discuss an alliance with AIADMK,” he said, “The last rites of J Jayalalithaa have only been performed. We should respect that. There is no election right now.”

“I had only said that there is an ideological affinity between the parties. That is all,” the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting said referring to his statement from two days ago.

Venkaiah said the AIADMK had been supporting the Narendra Modi government on a few issues, and that it was critical on some. “Yes they are an independent party. We did not have an electoral alliance (with AIADMK). Whether we will have an alliance or not in future, there is a lot of time. This is not the time to discuss,” he added.

Slams Rahul Gandhi Naidu came down hard on the manner in which the Opposition — Congress, Trinamool Congress, and the Left parties had been obstructing the smooth functioning of the Winter Session of Parliament, and slammed Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi for terming the demonetisation exercise ‘foolish’.

“If bringing out black money and exposing money hoarders was foolish, what was the wise thing? Should it have been like the previous Congress government — sitting on various scams including coal, 2G, wheat, rice and urea?” he questioned.

The Congress and its friend, when in power, had ‘encouraged’ various scams, Venkaiah alleged.

The Opposition parties were not allowing Parliament to function inside, but were protesting outside holding dharnas, and standing in front of Mahatma Gandhi statue, which the Union Minister said, was an insult to the Father of the Nation.

He also condemned the Left parties for opposing the policies of the Centre, which was coming up with new norms to ensure welfare for the poor, including streamlining the contribution of employers towards Provident Fund accounts. “I think the Left are trying to find a new definition for their age-old policies.”

Defending demonetisation, Venkaiah said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had conducted himself as per the wish of the people of the country and in accordance with his election promise. He had taken a revolutionary decision for transformation of India, to end corruption and black money.

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