The war of words between the Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam and its estranged ally Pattali Makkal Katchi continued, with the latter accusing the ruling party of giving up the cause of Sri Lankan Tamils, whenever it came to power in the state.

PMK founder S Ramadoss, in a statement, alleged that the DMK organised agitations on the issue when it was in the opposition and when it came to power, it gave up the issue.

The DMK had organised several agitations, including rail roko, bandhs, human chains and protest rallies from 1977 to 1987, when All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam founder late M G Ramachandran was the chief minister, he said.

He added that from 1989 to 1991, when the DMK was in power, it did not organise any agitations. Chief Minister Karunanidhi has described the agitations organised by Sri Lankan Tamils Protection Committee, floated by the PMK, MDMK and other parties, as efforts to destabilise his government, Ramadoss said and asked whether agitations organised by the DMK during MGR's rule were to destabilise the then AIADMK government.

"When I point out all these things, Karunanidhi blames me for creating a split in the unity and alleges that I want to increase my prestige," the PMK founder said.