Chennai: People will decide who is strong, says D Jayakumar

 Chennai: AIADMK senior and State Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar stoutly disagreed with actor Rajinikanth’s assessment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as stronger than all opposition combined and said only people will decide at the time of elections who is really strong.

The statement from the AIADMK leader is bound to irk the BJP even as the State government and Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami included, try their best to be on the right side of the BJP government.

 “Whether strong or weak, election is the answer for that. People review us....they are the reviewing authorities for every party. They will decide, not you and me,” he said responding to Rajini’s remark. He further said, “we may say that our children are good, but it is the teacher or headmaster who assesses their activities. People are those teachers or headmasters.”

 While interacting with reporters, Rajini had said in reply to a specific question, “when 10 persons go against one person, who is stronger? Those 10 or the person they are aligning against? If 10 persons declare a war against one man, who is stronger?” he asked and said Mr. Modi was stronger than all opposition combined.

 Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday Mr. Jayakumar said there was still time for forging alliance as the Lok Sabha election would be held in 2019 and the Assembly poll in 2021. “It is the election commission of India that will decide the dates for polls… We are prepared to face the elections anytime,” he said.

 On the political developments in neighbouring Sri Lanka, he said one cannot interfere in the internal affairs of another country. However, considering the overall welfare of minority Tamils, “our umbilical chord relations,” was important, he said.

 Sri Lanka Parliament on Wednesday passed a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa who was installed by President Maithripala Sirisena in a controversial move.