She condemned newspapers and Editors as a whole and said: ``That newspapers are being forced to reflect the personal biases and friendships of their proprietors is now well-established. These days editors perform the role of copy pasters, simply putting out matter given by their owners and managers. In such a context, it is not surprising to read the editorial `High on high heels' in the Express dated March 16, 1999. The frequency of the visits to Karunanidhi by the proprietor and his chartered accountant-cum-conscience keeper in Chennai are well known.

``The editorial states that I was `known' to have once flung my footwear at a minister. Known to whom, may one ask. No hint is given of the identity of the imaginaryindividual nor any details about the non-existent incident. As for the allegation that I am `high-handed and temperamental', again this has been put out as a bald assertion without any source or proof. It is a fact that some persons whom I removed from the party for good reasons made such charges against me after they were thrown out. However, the Express forgets that the late Shri Ramnath Goenka was himself the subject of many false allegations by those out to punish him for his bravery in resisting pressure even during the Emergency. It is sad that the Express has moved so far away from Shri Goenka's traditions as to adopt the same tactics of his traducers -- telling lies to smear an innocent person.

``The editorial states that there are 46 cases of corruption faced by me when the actual number is 7. Even these are bogus cases foisted by Karunanidhi in his obsession to use the judicial route to clear the way for his son. The only truthful statement in the malicious and inspired editorial isthe fact that Sri Rajasekaran's charges are `incredible.'

``As for Shri Rajasekaran and the Express, I can only feel pity for them. They are partners in a conspiracy to remove from the political arena the only individual and party capable of defeating the bid to install the aptly-named Stalin as the new master of Tamil Nadu. I say to them `Your thirty pieces of silver will not take away the stain of your lies -- lies so crude and obvious that they have failed in their evil purpose.''

`We stand by our editorial'

CHENNAI: The Chairman and Managing Director of Express Publications (Madurai) Ltd., Chennai, Manoj Kumar Sonthalia, when asked to respond to Jayalalitha's statement, said:

``I dismiss her remarks with the contempt they deserve. They are in tune with her known temperament and are the outcome of a tormented mind. The Indian Express stands by its comments in the editorial.''