Jaya makes a dramatic offer to Congress - 11

Arnab Goswami: Do you think the PM's image will take a hit on the Raja issue? Jayalalithaa: I think there have been court proceedings where Raja was castigated by the judges for having misused the prime minister’s name. But till today Raja persists in saying that whatever he did was with the knowledge and consent of the prime minister. It is upto the PM to clear his own name and make it clear to the nation that he is not condoning Raja’s crime against the nation and that the PM had no part to play in the massive scam. It is upto the PM that he mean to take action against Raja. Arnab Goswami: What would you like to tell the Congress, who is sometimes red faced sometimes supportive? Jayalalithaa: As far as the Congress party is concerned, they have shown that they are willing to take action against those in their own party who have caused embarrassment to the party like Mr. Tharoor, Mr Chavan, Suresh Kalmadi and some others. So it is not that the Congress would like to condone corruption. That is the message the Congress is trying to convey through the actions it has taken against persons like I have just mentioned. If the Congress really wishes to prove to the nation that it does not condone corruption, the Congress has to show that it is going to take action against Raja. I don’t think that the Congress really wishes to support Raja. Maybe there was a stage in the beginning when it did appear that the Congress was trying to support Raja. But now it is becoming increasingly clear that the only reason the Congress is not taking action against Raja because of the compulsions of coalition politics. The numbers game. The Congress wants to ensure that it has the numbers to stay in power at the Centre. If there is any other reason for not taking action against Raja then I really don’t know about it. But the delay in taking action against Raja is giving rise to all kinds of speculation which is not good for the image of the Congress. Arnab Goswami: You have talked about alliance in the Centre, but don’t you think the AIADMK is now ready to work with the Congress at the state level? Will u be willing for that? Jayalalithaa: That is for the Congress to ponder over. Arnab Goswami: Your equation with Sonia Gandhi has seen many ups and downs in the past. Politics is all about personal equations. How do you view the relationship over the years? Jayalalithaa: My party is 38 years old. I personally am 28 years old in politics. When you have spent that much time in politics there are bound to be ups and downs and there is bound to be a past. But in politics if you keep harping on the past and keep looking back, you cannot move forward. It is part and parcel of politics that you forget whatever has happened in the past and move on to the future. Arnab Goswami: What is the role that you see for yourself in the national arena? What are you aspirations in national politics and your role in the centre? Jayalalithaa: Speaking at a personal level, the first task that lies before me is to win the assembly elections in Tamil Nadu that are due early next year. That is my first priority. We hope to win the elections next year and form the government in TN and give the state a strong and stable government. Strong states makes for a strong nation. As for a role at the Centre, only the future can answer that. But, I would like to tell you that today the security of the nation is causing concern to every right thinking citizen and every responsible political leader like myself. If at all I get to play a role at the Centre, my first priority would be to strengthen the nation’s security. We cannot ignore the threat posed by China and other neighbours. Today, China has the best and most modern and well equipped army in the whole world. Are we really in a position to take on China’s military might if the need arises? I think not. And I feel not enough attention is been made to providing our armed forces with the best equipment available in this world and with incentives to serve the country. I also think a greater percentage of the entire budget should be allocated to Defence. Defence spending should be stepped-up. I think our responses to provocation from China, from Pakistan are too mild. I can say this that China and Pakistan would not have been so arrogant and so emboldened if a person like Mrs. Indira Gandhi was the prime minister. Today, India is being increasingly perceived as a soft state which is not true. But such an impression is being created by the central government because of the lack of strong leadership at the Centre. So I am just a leader in the opposition today. I am the leader of opposition in the Tamil Nadu assembly. But I am an Indian citizen and am concerned about the country’s security. Therefore, I earnestly appeal to the central government to pay more attention to strengthening our armed forces and strengthening our military might, step up our Defence expenditure and pay heed to the country’s security before it is too late. Arnab Goswami: What I understand that your focus is not only in politics in Chennai, but also its impact at the national level? Jayalalithaa: I don't belong to just Tamil Nadu, I am also a citizen of India. My view and vision is always national. Arnab Goswami: What if despite all this, despite the reports and what you have said -- What if the Congress still does not take action against A Raja? Jayalalithaa: That is why I have called upon every right thinking citizen of India to send telegrams to the President demanding dismissal of Raja. If the government won’t act, people have to step in. People of India cannot stand by and see the nation being looted by Raja. We expect the PM to dismiss Raja. If this does not happen, the people will have to resort to protests and demonstrations and I will lead from the front. http://www.timesnow.tv/Jaya-makes-a-dramatic-offer-to-Congress/articleshow/msid-4358071,curpg-2.cms