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Jethmalani dismisses Jaya's charges as 'ridiculous and irresponsible'

Urban Development Minister Ram Jethmalani has described as 'ridiculous and irresponsible' the allegation levelled against him by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham general secretary J Jayalalitha that he had received $ 2,00,000 from abroad in violation of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act.

In a television interview, which is to be telecast on Monday, he said, ''I have received no such money ever, at no place in the whole world. At no place in the universe.''

Admitting that he had received a letter from the Enforcement Directorate in this connection, the lawyer said, ''The ED questioned me long long ago. In fact, they didn't question, they just addressed a simple letter to me asking for my explanation. It must have been a formality. And I understand the case has been closed.''

He said he did not believe that the ED had sought Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's permission to prosecute him under FERA.

Asked about the letter written to him by the prime minister seeking his comments on Jayalalitha's charge, Jethmalani said he did not blame Vajpayee.''It is the prime minister's duty, whenever a finger of suspicion is raised, particularly by a person who happens to be our ally, to at least go through the formality of calling for an explanation and (then) confronting the lady.''

On whether Vajpayee's enquiry was serious or an attempt to appease Jayalalitha, Jethmalani said, ''I can tell you that some amount of attempt to get one's allies and keep them in good humour is not bad politics nor is it bad statesmanship. I must really sympathise with my prime minister over the kind of things he has had to go through.''

The minister agreed that senior ministers ought not to have quarrelled and attacked each other in public. On whether he regretted any of his statements against Jayalalitha or wished to rephrase or withdraw them, he said, ''Not a bit. Nothing. I would say the same thing the same way if similar provocation arises. Not a word is withdrawn. I would say it again and again.''

He said the AIADMK general secretary was acting at the behest of Janata Party president Dr Subramanian Swamy. ''I have known her for quite sometime. She has been my client. There was a time when she was vigorously fighting Dr Swamy. Today it is one of the greatest political mysteries, which I am unable to solve, as to how she is hand-in-glove with Dr Swamy of all persons. It is obvious that he is exercising a hold but whether he has it or not I don't know.''

On Jayalalitha's demand for the dismissal of the Tamil Nadu government, he said the Union Cabinet would ensure that Article 356 of the Constitution was not misused.

UNI

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