AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

NT Bureau
Chennai, Oct 1:
 

Chief Minister M Karunanidhi at a fast to press for speedy implementation of Sethusamudaram Shipping Canal Project. Photo : K Vijay Anand

        Tamilnadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today clarified that the DMK and its allies' decision to go on a one- day fast had not violated the Supreme Court stay on bandh and chose to remain silent over its warning that if the DMK government chose this attitude, why could not the UPA government dismiss it and impose President's rule in the State.

        Inaugurating the fast to press for speedy implementation of Sethusamudaram Shipping Canal Project by Democratic Progressive Alliance here, Karunanidhi said, 'When we were making arrangements to observe a bandh after complying with the Madras High Court's directives, the Supreme Court stayed it yesterday. Hence, we decided to observe a peaceful fast to express our feelings.'

        The DMK president said, 'I came to know that Supreme Court is being approached again by some parties. They may even say we are violating the court's directive. I wish to point out that the court has not directed against observing fast or from expressing our opinion.' At the same time, he said he would not be surprised, if the Supreme Court stayed the fast. 'Whatever it may be we will abide by the courts, as we are law-abiding citizens,' he added.

        Karunanidhi said, 'we thought that the implementation of the SSCP will bring prosperity to the State. We did not expect that it would run into this kind of obstacle.' As this project would benefit entire nation, he said, 'we gave it great support.' However, he said the name of Lord Ram was being 'unnecessarily dragged in' by some parties to stall the project.

        Taking a dig at AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa, the Chief Minister said those who are opposed to the project now had announced commitment to the project earlier. He said AIADMK had clearly spelt out in its 2001 Assembly election manifesto the benefits of the project. Today, he said, the same party chief asks what were the benefits of the project.

        Karunanidhi said that there is no link between Lord Ram and the SSCP. How could the implementation of the project be against the sentiments attached with Ram, he questioned and said, 'we are looking it as a developmental project. This was started by previous BJP- led NDA government. Now they are asking for change in alignment.' Stating that change of alignment would stall the project, he said experts who went into the feasibility of various alignments said, 'if we choose another alignment now, it would require permission from Sri Lankan government as it would intrude into their waters. Moreover, he said those alignment would not be suitable as well.
 

MK quits fast, rushes to work          Just hours after the Supreme Court passed strictures on his government for disobeying its order against the bandh call, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi left the venue where he had been observing fast along with DPA allies since morning and attended to work at the Secretariat.         Karunanidhi left the venue after the news about the apex court's strictures on the DMK and his government came in. His Ministerial colleagues also followed suit. Meanwhile, official sources told media that Chief Secretary L K Tripathy had given instructions to operate public transport immediately.         The Secretariat functioned normally but attendance was thin.         Earlier, reports from various parts of the State had revealed that most shops and commercial establishments were closed and the government and private buses remained off the road, subjecting the public to hardship.