2G scam largest in history, says Jayalalithaa

Former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa has claimed that denying water to Tamil Nadu by constructing a new dam at Mullaperiyar would affect five districts of in the state, and this would have an adverse impact on the National Food Security programme.

Jayalaalitha was on a visit to Kanyakumari district to attend a private programme on Thursday. The former chief minister cited the example of an old dam in Tamil Nadu 'Grand Annakettu', which was constructed in the Chola Age with clay, brick and lime but has survived the test of time.

"The Kerala government has mooted a proposal for the construction of a new dam, claiming that the dam has outlived its existence. But the construction of a new dam will not abide by the treaty Tamil Nadu has with Kerala on water sharing," she said.

She added, "The Kerala government is also arguing that the Mullaperiyar dam is in a seismic zone, but the proposed dam is four hundred metres from the existing dam and this is also under the seismic zone ".

Jayalalithaa termed the ruling Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam in Tamil Nadu as a corrupt party, pointing out that the Central Bureau of Investigation was carrying out raids on the residences and offices of people close to the party's  leadership.

"The 2G spectrum scam, which has caused a loss of one lakh eighty thousand crores, has been the largest scam in the history of the world .The DMK has always been a corrupt party and this scam has revealed the heights which the DMK leadership can reach in corruption," she said.

To a question about the DMK leadership planning a campaign in the state to support Raja and vilify her, she said, "I have been in the opposition for the past five years. The DMK leadership has been trying to probe into the workings of the state administration between 2001 and 2006 when I ruled the state, but they could find nothing (against me)."

When asked whether she would consider aligning with the Congress in case the party severed its ties with the DMK, Jayalalithaa said "I have already made my view public and there is nothing more to say about this".