CM M Karunanidhi said on Saturday people of the state would not accept if the project was "scuttled in the name of something that does not exist."
CHENNAI: Expressing hope that the Sethusamudram project would not get diluted by the controversy over Ram Sethu, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi said on Saturday people of the state would not accept if the project was "scuttled in the name of something that does not exist."
On Union Shipping Minister T R Baalu's assertion that the project could not be completed without demolishing the Ram Sethu even though the Centre had submitted before the Supreme Court that it would explore the possibility of an alternative alignment, he asked "what if the experts committee, constituted by the Centre to go into the issue, endorsed Baalu's stand."
Talking, he said the present alignment was approved by the then Prime Minister A B Vajpayee and endorsed by BJP Ministers.
"The people are looking forward to the benefits of the Sethusamudram project. They will not accept if it was scuttled in the name of something that does not exist."
Refuting the charge that he kicked up a row over Lord Ram, Karunanidhi pointed out that he did not object to the Krishna river water scheme though it had 'Krishna' in its name. "Our Ministers even went to Puttaparthi and held talks with Sathya Sai Baba for the implementation of the project."
On the nuclear deal issue, he said "I have already given my views on the subject. There is nothing more to add."
Asked whether his poet-daughter and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi would become a Union Minister, he said "may become some time."
"I don't want to comment," Karunanidhi said when asked about his ally PMK founder Ramadoss' statement that he would float a non-DMK and non-AIADMK front to contest the 2011 Assembly elections.
Denying reports that MDMK Propaganda Secretary Nanjil Sampath was assaulted in a Madurai prison where he was lodged after being arrested for making "derogatory" remarks against him, the Chief Minister said according to the information he had received there was no such incident. However, Sampath had been shifted to the prison in Tiruchirapalli, he added.
Though the MDMK leader had made derogatory remarks against him several times,he had always given instructions to ignore them. But, the police had to take action following his speech at Vathalakundu in Dindigul district recently, he said.
Stating that he had sent Sampath's speech copy to leaders of various political parties,Karunanidhi said his party would take stern action if any of its cadre spoke in similar vein.
Asked about the recent portfolio change of state Minister K K S S R Ramachandran, who was divested of Health and given Backward Class instead, he said it was done for the welfare of the Minister and the convenience of the Chief Minister.
To a question, he said Ministers had been deputed to rain affected districts to study the situation and take up necessary relief works.
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