CHENNAI, Jun 13 (PTI) : DMK chief M Karunanidhi termed Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa's criticism on his party's efforts on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue as "drama" and said her comments were "totally unwarranted" and aimed at "diverting people's attention."

"Jayalalithaa had not criticised Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajpaksa and Sri Lankan government and instead have criticised me and DMK on the issue," Karunanidhi said.

He said the criticism was "totally unwarranted and sheer waste of time of the Assembly aimed at diverting the attention of the people."

Listing out steps that his party had taken on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue since 1956, the 88-year-old patriarch wondered "who all can talk about what all issues these days."

Refuting charges that DMK had not taken up the issue with the Centre, he referred to the resolution his government had tabled in the Assembly in 2008.

Karunanidhi said "Jayalalithaa, who had said the Sri Lankan Army was not deliberately killing the Sri Lankan Tamils and it was common for innocent people getting killed in a war, was now behaving as if she is concerned about the Sri Lankan Tamils."

"But the real Tamils will not fall for that," he said, adding, "it is her action that is a drama and not ours."

While speaking on a resolution in the State Assembly seeking imposition of economic sanctions on Sri Lanka, Jayalalithaa had slammed Karunanidhi, saying it was his party's "selfish nature and helplessness" which did not yield any tangible benefits for the suffering Tamils.