Chennai: Reacting sharply to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's statement linking Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president M Karunanidhi with forest brigand Veerappan, the party on August 30 said it was an attempt to divert people's attention from the manner in which the Congress had "exposed" her at New Delhi and said they were ready to face any probe.

DMK general secretary, K Anbazhagan, in a statement on August 30 night, said this tactic was also meant to sidetrack the "adverse publicity" she received in the electronic media, which aired the letter she wrote to then President K R Naryanan pledging support to the Congress.

He said there was nothing secretive about Karunanidhi's visit to Goa. Since the DMK chief was in the "Z" plus category, he had been provided security by Black Cat commandos, besides Tamil Nadu police. Additional security had been provided by police in Goa, he said.

Both the Karnataka police and Tamil Nadu police had also provided Karunanidhi security during his Bangalore visit.

Though Jayalalithaa was fully aware of these facts, she had indulged in "mudslinging" by issuing such a statement, something which did not befit her position, he said.

Anbazhagan said Karunanidhi could not find time to write about the Tamil grammar epilogue 'Telkoppiyan' due to party work at Chennai. He had chosen Goa to complete it only because he wanted to be free of any disturbances, he added.

PTI