Alagiri said Stalin would die in three months: Karunanidhi
DMK chief angry over his elder son's harsh words; Alagiri dub them as baseless charges.
Chennai/Maudrai: The sibling rivalry in DMK escalated on Tuesday with its party chief M. Karunanidhi saying his elder son Alagiri has talked about the 'death' of his younger son Stalin, a charge the Madurai strongman dubbed as baseless.
Karunanidhi at a press conference at the party headquarters in Chennai said Alagiri spewed hatred when he remarked that Stalin would die in three months.
"He (Alagiri) has some unknown hatred against Stalin. Alagiri even said Stalin would die in three months. No father can tolerate such words against a son. As the party chief, I had to tolerate them."
Detailing the events leading to Alagiri's suspension, the DMK patriarch said Alagiri had been giving interviews to newspapers and TV channels against the party's General and Executive Councils' decision (about tie-up with DMDK), resulting in undesirable political fallout.
Hours later, Alagiri, suspended as party's South Zone Organising Secretary, in a rather emotional reaction in Madurai, said he would like to die ahead of Karunanidhi.
"His tears must roll on my corpse; president (Karunanidhi) should live well; he must live beyond 100 years," he told reporters.
Alagiri rubbished as baseless the charges levelled against him.
"Not even in my dream could I imagine such charges.. Anyway..I take it as his greetings for my birthday..(Alagiri's birthday falls on January 30)".
Asked about Alagiri's interviews in Madurai against the party, Karunanidhi said Alagiri has been giving interviews to newspapers and TV channels against the party's General and Executive Councils' decision (about tie-up with DMDK), resulting in undesirable political outcomes,forgetting that he was a member and also party's South Zone organising secretary.
"He (Alagiri) has been nurturing hatred towards party treasurer Stalin for a long time," Karunanidhi said.
Referring to interviews Alagiri has been giving since his suspension, Karunanidhi said the action taken against him was a party's decision."How is it proper to give interviews and pasting posters instead of giving a written explanation?" he asked.
"Not as brothers, but even as party members, saying one would die in next three, four months in my presence is something anyone would not bear," he said.
Asked whether Alagiri's suspension would be revoked if he apologises, Karunanidhi said, "You have to ask him."
He also justified the party action suspending some of Alagiri's supporters in Madurai.
Alagiri, Lok Sabha MP from Madurai and former Union Minister, was suspended on January 25 with the party cracking the whip telling him that his opposition to DMK-DMDK alliance is not going be taken lightly.
The DMK's South Zone organising secretary was temporarily removed from all posts including the primary membership of the party.
To another query on what if erstwhile ally Congress came forward to form an alliance with DMK for Lok Sabha polls, Karunanidhi said, "I don't want to boast that the Congress is coming to us. Forming an alliance is to be done without losing every party's self respect."