TN CM warns Centre not to succumb to communal forces

Yercaud, Tamil Nadu, Sep 15 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M Karunanidhi today said the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre should not bow its head to the communal forces, while implementing the Sethusamudram Shipping canal Project (SSCP).

Asked whether the DMK, a key ally of the UPA, had any differences with the Centre in the wake of the withdrawal of the controversial affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, he said ''we have differences of opinion only with communal forces''.

''Some oppressive forces are trying to exploit the superstitious beliefs of the people and we are fighting only against them. We have no differences with the Centre and we warn only the Union government not to succumb to these forces'', he added.

On the withdrawal of the affidavit, he said it should not be construed that the Centre was backing out from implementing the SSCP.

However, the withdrawal of the affidavit was not acceptable to parties like DMK, which followed scientifically-based progressive ideals, Mr Karunanidhi said.

Asked whether the multi-crore project could be implemented within the stipulated period despite the present controversy, he said now it would take three or four months more for its implementation.

Mr Karunanidhi said when the project is implemented, there could be economic prosperity and tremendous saving in shipping time.

''Experts have opined that Ramarsethu was not man made and it was not built by an engineer named Ramar'', he added.

Former Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who had ruled the country for 20 years, had said 'Ramayana' was an epic based on 'puranic' story depicting the fight between the Aryans and the Dravidians.

''I view Ramayana as how a rationalist will view it'', he added.

UNI