Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi (SP)
New Delhi, Jul 1: It is learnt that union textiles minister, Dayanidhi Maran, during his one-to-one meeting with Prime Minister (PM), Manmohan Singh, offered to quit his post if the pressure for his ouster becomes unbearable. The minister had met the PM on Thursday June 30.
Maran has been facing the allegation that he was involved with the Aircel-Maxis deal. It may be recalled that former owner of Aircel, C Sivashankaran, had alleged that Maran, the then telecom minister, had coerced him into selling his company to Maxis owned by Malaysian tycoon, T Anand Krishnan in December 2005. Maran has dismissed this allegation.
Maran reportedly told the Prime Minister that he is ready to put the papers, if his continuance in the ministry results in undue embarrassment for the latter. When the media sought to know the purpose of the visit, Maran had said that being a minister, he had met the PM for routine office work.
Maran had to relinquish his ministerial berth before the end of his tenure in the previous UPA government, because of a controversy between the business run by his family and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Karunanidhi’s family. During this crisis, a gang owing allegiance to Karunanidhi’s son, Azhagiri, had reportedly attacked a media house run by Marans.
Already, Maran’s successor in the ministry, A Raja, and Rajya Sabha member and Karunanidhi’s daughter, Kanimozhi, are in CBI custody relating to the 2G spectrum scam.
Senior DMK functionaries met Kanimozhi and A Raja in Tihar jail on Thursday. This has fuelled the speculation that stage is being prepared for Maran to quit the union cabinet.