Wife's obeisance to Saibaba not out of devotion: Karunanidhi

Chennai, Feb 4 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, a hardcore atheist, today defended his wife's obeisance to godman Sathya Saibaba, when the latter called on him at his residence here recently.

Reacting to criticisms that Ms Dayalu Ammal's prostration before the godman was against rationalism, he said ''my wife did not fall at his feet out of devotion. It is due to our tradition to pay respect to elders. People need both rationalism and culture in their lives.'' He said Ms Dayalu's family members were staunch followers of Dravidar Kazhagam even at the time of his marriage with her in 1948.

Her grandmother, Rajamani Ammal, had participated in anti-Hindi agitation in 1938 and suffered imprisonment, he said in a statement here.

Those who wanted more explanation with regard to his sharing the dais with Sathya Saibaba and another spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi in Nagapattinam recently could go through his speeches in those functions and clear their doubts, Mr Karunanidhi said.

It may be recalled that Mr Karunanidhi participated in a thanks giving function for Sathya Saibaba for his contribution to the lining of the Telugu Ganga canal, raising many eyebrows.

He also shared dais with Mata Amritanandamayi in a function to hand over permanent houses built by her mutt for tsunami-affected people in Nagapattinam.

UNI