TN CM asks for global support to save Sarabjit Singh

Chennai, Apr 20 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today urged countries across the globe to unitedly appeal to save the life of Sarabjit Singh, the Indian prisoner facing gallows in Pakistan.

Answering questions on capital punishment, Mr Karunanidhi said he was generally against it. ''I have on different occasions expressed this view,'' he added.

Mr Karunanidhi said Sarabjit had been languishing in Pakistan prison for the past 17 years. Following India's request, the punishment was deferred till April 30.

When it was reported that the punishment had been deferred again for another month, he said Pakistan had denied the news in another report.

The Chief Minister said it was high time that other countries joined India to urge the Pakistan government fervently to save the life of Sarabjit at the earliest.

Mr Karunanidhi said the views of the Tamil Nadu government on external affairs were similar to that of the Centre.

Answering a question on the AIADMK members allegation that a CD would prove beyond doubt that the the government had been taping telephones of Chief Secretary and other officials, Mr Karunanidhi said his party was not scared of blackmailing tactics adopted by the AIADMK members.

''If we produce the relevant files, proving large-scale corruption, which had prevailed during the erstwhile AIADMK Government where will these people hide,'' he asked.

To another question, Mr Karunanidi said his decision to put on hold the Hogenakkal drinking water project was temporary and to put an end to violence in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

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