Maran's resignation long overdue, says Jayalalithaa

Describing Dayanidhi Maran's resignation as Union Textile Minister as ''long overdue'', Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should have made him quit long ago.

"This is something long overdue. The Prime Minister should have made him resign long ago," she told reporters.

The AIADMK chief, who had earlier demanded that Maran should resign or Prime Minister should sack him, was responding to reporters' queries on the exit of Maran over the 2G scam.

Asked if this was the "end of DMK," with yet another top party leader becoming a casualty to the 2G scam, Jayalalithaa said ''end of DMK had already been decided by the people,'' apparently referring to its rout in April 13 Assembly polls.

Asked if her government would pursue complaints against Maran's brother and media baron Kalanidhi Maran, both grand nephews of DMK chief M Karunanidhi, and his close associate, Sun Pictures COO Hansraj Saxena, Jayalalithaa said "most certainly."

She said the "whatever complaints" received against them would be acted upon with 'all seriousness'.

Saxena has already been arrested in connection with a cheating and intimidation case.