Local court partly hears complaint by Khurana against Karunanidhi

New Delhi, Oct 5 (UNI) Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ajay Kr Kuhar today adjourned for tomorrow the hearing on a complaint filed by former Delhi Chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

According to Mr Khurana who is a religious man and believes in both the existence and might of Lord Rama, Mr Karunanidhi, instead of refuting the affidavit filed by the Centre on September 13 disputing the existence of Lord Rama made certain disparaging remarks in his speech.

The newspapers reproduced his speech and reported that while addressing a rally on September 18 at Erode, Tamil Nadu on the occasion of the 99th birth anniversary of Periyaar, Mr Karunanidhi said ''some say there was a person over 17 lakhs years ago. His name was Rama and we should not touch the bridge (Ram Sethu) he built. From which engineering college did he graduate? Is there any proof of this?'' He also went a step further, when he said Ram is ''alive'', Mr Khurana said adding that his statements were calculated to deliberately promote disharmony and hatred among different religions, races, languages and communities. His statement, according to the complainant, has committed an act which is pre-judicial to the maintenance of harmony between the communities and liable for prosecution under Sec 153 (A), 295 (A), 298 and 505 of the Indian Penal Code.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate after partly hearing the matter, adjourned it for tomorrow.

UNI