CPI(M) criticises Jaya for opposing Sethu project

Chennai, May 3 (UNI) Communist Party of India (Marxist) Tamil Nadu unit Secretary N Varadarajan today flayed AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa for joining hands with ''communal forces'' and opposing the implementation of Sethusamudram project, on the pretext of protecting Ramar bridge.

Disputing the existence of Ramar bridge, he said in a statement here that the not-so-deep areas between Rameshwaram and Dhanushkodi were only called Adams bridge and it was totally against scientific research that Lord Ram had built the bridge.

Mr Varadarajan said that when the Centre had come forward to implement the project, the 150-year-old dream of the people of Tamil Nadu, ''communal forces'' like Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) were making a hue and cry that Ramar bridge was being destroyed.

On the Sri Lankan Tamils issue, he said that as the party strongly believed that there could be no military solution, both the Tamils and the island Government should strive to find a negotiated settlement. India should use its diplomatic ties to arrive at a solution, he suggested.

He said that when Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and State DGP were categorical about the involvement of the LTTE in the killing of five fishermen and abduction of 12 others, some parties and organisations in the State have launched a false campaign in support of the banned outfit.

UNI