Sarat pulls crowd but Cong stays away: Kamaraj Memorial

Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, Apr 30 (UNI) Prolonging the speculation over his entry into the political arena, film star Sarath Kumar today underlined the need for a social alliance with a political vision.

Sarath Kumar also discounted the nonparticipation of the Congress at the eleventh hour from the foundation stone laying ceremony for a memorial to the Late Kamaraj.

Emboldened by the huge turnout, he said the Congress leaders had come to the airport but were forced to make a retreat due to the intervention of certain vested interests, which he did not mention.

None of the Congress leaders, slated to participate in the programme, turned up for the 'Awakening Conference' and the foundation stone laying ceremony, which commenced more than two hours behind schedule, apparently unwilling to antagonise the DMK.

Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy, taking pride in calling himself a foot-soldier of Kamaraj, was to lay the foundation stone in the company of Union Ministers E V K S Elangovan and Oscar Fernandes for the memorial on the outskirts last night.

It was a huge disappointment for Sarath, who deserted the DMK that helped him to become Rajya Sabha MP, days before the elections to join the AIADMK. However, he does not blame either the DMK Chief M Karunanidhi or Congress President Sonia, whom he and his wife had personally invited along with his wife. Interestingly, both have sent their greetings.

But the filmstar, attempting to appropriate the Kamaraj legacy and the mantle of leadership of the mercantile Nadar community, asserted that he was ready to take the plunge but would wait till the opportune time.

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