``Just because we are in the coalition, we cannot be restrained from speaking to the people and the media. Every coalition partner is independent and we have to face the people,'' Janarthanan told reporters at Ghaziabad.

His remarks come two days after Jayalalitha refused to sign the statement faxed to her by party representative and Union Minister M Thambi Durai, saying she did not agree with many of its points. The joint statement issued at the end of a meeting of BJP and its alliance partners on Tuesday had appealed to all constituents not to publicly voice their differences or opposition to Government.

Janarthanan, however, asserted that the Vajpayee Government had proved to be more effective than the previous United Front Government at theCentre and cited various achievements of the BJP-led coalition.

Asked about the outcome of the efforts of Defence Minister and coordination committee convenor George Fernandes to persuade Jayalalitha to sign the joint statement, Janarthanan said he was not aware of it.