CM reminds Jaya of AIADMK 2001 manifesto

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Monday reminded AIAIDMK supremo Jayalalithaa that she had favoured the Sethusamudram project in her party's poll manifesto in 2001, in which its 'salient features' and 'benefits' to the state were explained.

Reading out from the manifesto, he wondered why she was now speaking about who would benefit from the project. The manifesto, he said stated that not only India, but the entire South East Asian region, would benefit and that Tamil Nadu would receive a lot of foreign investement and that the southern part of the state would gain the most.
   
On the controversy surrounding the Kodanadu estate, owned by the AIADMK leader and her friend Sasikala, Karunanidhi alleged that it was constructed on encroached space which originally belonged to the local panchayat.

Reiterating that former Prime Minister AB Vajpayee had approved the Sethusamudram project on the present alignment, he wondered why the same project had become a "needless one" for the BJP, which is now calling for alternative alignments.
   
He expressed fear over the risks involved in alternative alignments and said that the Sri Lankan government might even raise objections in this regard, leading to further delays.