Kanimozhi should not get concessions: Jayalalithaa

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DMK MP Kanimozhi should not be granted bail in the 2G spectrum case just because she is a woman, Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa said on Tuesday.

"It's a wrong argument for bail. In politics, no concession is given because you are a woman. The same applies for criminal activities," she said at a press conference here. Kanimozhi's lawyer Ram Jethmalani had earlier argued before the special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in New Delhi that she should be granted bail as she was a woman and was not involved in the day to day operations of Kalaignar TV.

The CBI named Kanimozhi and Kalaignar TV managing director Sharad Kumar as co-conspirators in its April 25 supplementary chargesheet after it traced an illegal money trail of 214 crores in the scam to the channel, majority-owned by the family of DMK chief M. Karunanidhi. Both have been in Delhi's Tihar Jail since May 20. Referring to the 2G scam, Jayalalithaa said that people had regained faith in the judicial system.

"Finally, the law is taking its course," she said. The AIADMK chief, who was sworn in as chief minister May 16, condemned the recent petrol price hike and the likely increase in the prices of cooking gas, diesel as it has cascading effect. She said it has been just a week since her government assumed office and it was yet to take a decision of reducing sales tax on petrol and diesel. Discussing the acute power crisis, Jayalalithaa promised good news after two weeks.

On the fiscal front, Jayalalithaa said her government would study the state's financial position and, if warranted, come out with a white paper. She said her party was against the revival of the legislative council, something the previous DMK government was keen on. Whenever the DMK comes to power, Jayalalithaa added, it tries to revive the Upper House.

And when the AIADMK comes to power the proposal is scrapped. "Our policy is that the Legislative Council need not be there." Regarding promises she made in the AIADMK manifesto before the elections, she said a number of announcements would be made in the governor's address in the assembly June 3. She added that the Cabinet would take a decision on whether to take a re-look at the DMK government's various schemes regarding insurance, housing and the Metro rail.