BJP, DMK slugfest over invite to M Karunanidhi’s birthday

Talking to reporters, Stalin said, “They (BJP) are talking about uprooting the Dravidian movement of which DMK is a part. We do not want to embarrass them by having them on our dais,” apparently suggesting that the June 3 conclave would be an all-out assault on the saffron party. 

Stalin had already invited Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, Odisha Chief Minister Navin Patnaik, Trinamool Congress chief Mamta Banerjee and CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury for the June 3 meeting, which would be a platform for a secular formation against the BJP. 

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee was understood to have assured that she would depute someone in the event of her not being able to make it on her own. 

No wonder the BJP has been irked not only by Stalin overlooking them but also on any information pertaining to the conclave. 

Reacting to Stalin’s broadside, Union Minister Radhakrishnan said, “It’s a political meeting. People who have been doing wrongs across the country are converging. It has not been organised to celebrate Kalaignar’s diamond jubilee.”

However, the BJP minister quickly added that he would visit Karunanidhi to greet him on the occasion.