Congress today downplayed DMK's strong remarks on the issue of the "atrocious" petrol price hike, saying there is nothing that cannot be resolved through talks.
"We have always accorded great respect to the views of our allies...There is nothing that we cannot resolve through dialogue," party spokesperson Renuka Chowdhary said.
She said, "We have great respect for Karunanidhi. His party is an old and matured ally of UPA."
Addressing a gathering of party workers protesting against petrol price hike in Chennai, Karunanidhi said, "The DMK is in the coalition. But (being in) alliance is different but it is our duty to voice concern against policies that will affect the people".
The 88-year-old DMK patriarch said his party had walked out of alliances, "whether it be the BJP (led NDA) or while being in the VP Singh cabinet."
"We have never hesitated to raise voice of opposition whenever the basic principles were hurt and if we cannot solve it by being an ally, we have not hesitated to come out and uphold those principles," he said.
Karunanidhi later said that he never threatened pull out from UPA. "We will be in alliance with bitterness; won't threaten government with Presidential elections around the corner," the DMK chief.
