AIADMK supported Sethusamudram project initially: Stalin

(TN), Mar 14: DMK Treasurer M K Stalin today trained his guns against BJP and AIADMK over the Sethusamudram issue, saying while the project was stayed at the "instigation" of the former, his party's archrival had initially supported the multi-crore project before changing its stand.

Launching his 39-day campaign trail from this district, Stalin said Sethusamudram was a "dream-project" of Dravidian veteran C N Annadurai, also the founder of DMK.

Responding to AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa's charge asking what his party had did for Tamil Nadu despite being a part of ruling dispensation in Centre for many years, Stalin claimed it was DMK which pushed for its implementation, saying it would bring economic prosperity not only for South Tamil Nadu but for the whole of India.

The foundation stone for the project was laid by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Madurai in the presence of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi at a function headed by his father and DMK chief M Karunanidhi, which was also attended by other parties like PMK, MDMK and Left, he said.

"After that, when the works were proceeding, at the instigation of BJP, and due to communal forces the matter went to court and it was stayed. Jayalalithaa also opposed the project later though her party's election manifestos had earlier argued in support of it," he said.

He took a dig at Jayalalithaa, saying she had recently "read out" her allegations against DMK during an election rally in the same district. Stalin was campaigning for his party candidate F M Rajarathinam.

During the campaign, he will seek votes for the candidates of both his party and its allies - VCK, IUML, MMK and PT.

PTI