No archaeological evidence on "Ramar bridge": Karunanidhi

Chennai, Mar 7 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today said there was no archaeological evidence to prove the existence of ''Ramar bridge'' in the Palk Strait and the campaign to ''save the bridge'' was only aimed at scuttling the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project.

Answering questions, he said the campaign to save the bridge, which never existed, was part of a move by those who were against the Sethusamudram Project.

The opposition AIADMK played a key role in it, he alleged.

Having tried in vain all means to stop the successful implementation of the project, which marked the fulfillment of 150-year-old demand of the people of the state, these people have now taken up the bridge issue, he said.

Mr Karunaidhi said Union Minister of Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni, herself, in her written reply in Parliament had asserted that there was no archaeological or any other kind of evidences to show that the bridge existed across the Palk Strait.

On Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram's plea to the cement companies to reduce the price, he said after the cement manufacuturers had rejected the plea, Union Commerce Minister Kamal Nath had warned them against rising prices.

The DMK leader welcomed Congress President Sonia Gandhi's suggestion that women should be given equal opportunity and rights.

He recalled that the DMK government in 1989, had enacted a legislation, paving way for equal rights for women in family properties.

The DMK government had also provided 33 per cent reservation for women in jobs and allotment of seats in local body elections.

He said even while addressing the Chief Ministers' conference two months ago, he had said it would be ideal to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures and Parliament while Ms Gandhi was the Chairperson of the UPA government.

UNI