AIADMK supreme Jayalalithaa on Thursday dared the DMK patriarch to repeat his remarks at a public meeting in New Delhi.
CHENNAI: Alleging that the anti-Ram remarks made by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had caused security risks to Tamils living in the North, AIADMK supreme Jayalalithaa on Thursday dared the DMK patriarch to repeat his remarks at a public meeting in New Delhi.
"Karunanidhi has not visited Delhi in recent times as he is aware that the people in North India are looking at Tamils with contempt and also castigating him (for the remarks)," she said in a statement here.
"Karunanidhi is emboldened to insult Lord Ram as his party is in power in the state and he has police protection. Does he have the courage to make such remarks at a public meeting in Delhi? If he is ready (to take up the challenge), the AIADMK is prepared to bear his travel expenses," she added.
Coming down heavily on Karunanidhi for his statements on the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project (SSCP), Jayalalithaa said the project was a 'closed chapter' as there was no possibility for its completion.
She said the SSCP was implemented without making any proper geological and economical feasibility studies. As the depth of the channel would be only 12 metres, ships with less than 30,000 tonnes of weight could only cruise through it.
"However, massive ships of more than 1.5 lakh tonnes weight are being built and utilised now," she added.
Jayalalithaa charged the Centre with wasting crores of rupees on the project and implementing it in a 'slipshod' manner due to the 'pressure' exerted by Karunanidhi.
Questioning Union Shipping Minister T R Baalu's claim that 70 per cent of the dredging work had been completed under the project, Jayalalithaa demanded to know whether he could inform the public about the length and breadth of the channel dredged so far.
"Are they ready to demonstrate by running a ship in the completed area ? If so, AIADMK MPs and MLAs are prepared to undertake the voyage. Scientists and mediapersons are also ready to join the cruise," she added.
Jayalalithaa said the DMK chief was unable to speak against the Centre, which "voluntarily gave an assurance to the Supreme Court that it will defer the implementation of the project."
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