New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today (Nov 30, 2004) dismissed the charge that political or personal motives were behind the arrest of Kanchi Seer Jayendra Saraswati and said it was one of the "most painful decisions" in her political career "compelled by circumstances."

"All such allegations of political motives or personal motives deserved to be dismissed with utmost contempt", she told reporters in New Delhi adding the arrest was not done at anyone's behest.

Spotlight: Kanchi Jayendra Saraswathi's Arrest

Jayalalithaa, on a visit to the capital for a meeting with the Planning Commission, rubbished charges that the arrest was a pre-emptive action in the wake of DMK's (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) proposed agitation on the issue of murder of Sankaraman, a former official of the Kanchi Mutt in Kancheepuram, for which the Seer has been arrested.

"Everyone is equal before the law. When the trial takes place, the truth will come out", the Chief Minister said.

"This is one of the most painful decisions I had to take in my entire political career. It was not a decision that I have taken happily as this was not the decision that I wanted to take. But circumstances have compelled me to do my duty. I am doing my duty", she said.