Arriving here on his first visit to his home state after 15 months in jail,former Telecom Minister and 2G spectrum scam key accused A Raja was today givena boisterous reception by his supporters and an emotional welcome by DMK chiefM Karunanidhi who called him as his young brother.
"It islike an elder brother meeting his younger brother after a year," 89-yearold Karunanidhi told reporters after the 10-minute meeting with Raja who drovestraight to the party headquarters from the airport to meet the DMK chief.
Answeringquestions, the DMK patriarch said Raja was still active in politics and wouldspeak in public meetings.
Echoeing thesentiments expressed by Karunanidhi on their meeting, Raja, when asked if DMKstood by him, said "I was, have been and will be like a child in the handsof revered and respected leader (Karunanidhi)."
Asked aboutthe 2G scam being described as the biggest one since independence, he said nocourt has framed charges against him for the Rs 1.76 lakh crore (presumptiveloss as estimated by the Comptroller and Auditor General).
"EarlierRs 1.76 lakh crore was mentioned in the Supreme Court. Then CBI said it is Rs35,000 crore. The trial court did not accept even that. Only the media isquoting the CAG and says that it is Rs 1.76 lakh crore. No court has framedcharges against me for Rs 1.76 lakh crore," Raja said.
Topersistent queries on the CAG figure, he said Rs 1.76 lakh crore was notsubstantiated. "It was not admitted by the trial court. Why should Ibother about it? The chargesheet said Rs 35,000 crore but the trial court didnot accept it."
Asked whatwas the actual figure, he said "no, you go through the charges framed. Thecharges framed by the trial court clearly says the exchequer loss is notmentioned and exchequer loss is not necessary. On the other hand, (charge of)abuse of power was framed."
Asked if hestill maintained he was innocent, Raja said "yes".
"I havesaid already. 43 witnesses have been examined. I have argued in a court filledwith journalists. I am the eighth son in my family. They have conducted raidsagainst all seven brothers and sisters. ED had come, CBI had come. Income Taxhad come. I asked what have you found? I asked in the open court. I will continueto ask the same question," he said.
Asked if hefelt Congress had made him an accused, he declined to respond saying the casewas pending in the court.
To aquestion whether he was a victim of political vendetta, Raja replied "Icannot speculate".
"I don'tfeel so," Raja said when asked about reports of security threat to him injail.
On his daysin prison, Raja said he had read and re-read Karunanidhi's books which had madehim stronger and prepared him to face any adversity and come out clean.
About theabsence of senior leaders at the airport to receive him, he said "after MK Stalin (Karunanidhi's son) came to my house yesterday, I felt the entireparty welcomed me."
Asked if hewas accorded the same reception as Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi, a co-accusedin 2G scam, on his arrival here, the DMK chief intervened and chided themedia."Until now, you have been asking questions. But now you are playingmischief...Please behave like good journalists."
Raja,projected as DMK's Dalit face, was greeted by supporters who thronged theairport in good numbers hailing him a "Bold" and "BrightSun", DMK's election symbol.
However,senior leaders of the party were conspicuous by their absence at the airport.
A visiblyhappy 49-year old Raja, clad in a white dhoti and fullarm shirt, waved at hissupporters before heading to the party headquarters on the arterial Anna Roadwhere he was received with bursting of crackers.
At theairport, slogan-shouting and folk numbers played by a band greeted the MP fromNilgiris. The supporters wore T-shirts with pro-Raja slogans and carrying thepicture of party leader M K Stalin.
"Rajahad conquered Tihar jail", read the slogans, apparently referring to hisincarceration and release from the Delhi prison where he was lodged after hewas arrested by CBI.
A Delhicourt had on Thursday allowed Raja to visit Tamil Nadu between June 8 and June30 accepting his plea.
The courthad earlier while granting him bail on May 15 imposed certain conditions,including that he would not visit his home state without its prior permission.
Raja hadsought the court's permission also on the ground that the trial proceedingswould not be undertaken from June 9 to June 30 owing to summer vacation.
Raja's LokSabha constituency meanwhile is gearing up to accord him a big reception whenhe goes there on July 10.
The DMKleader is scheduled to visit Udhagamandalam and several other places in theconstituency, spread over Nilgiris and Coimbatore Districts, party sourcessaid.