By IANS
Chennai : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi cut short his fast to demand completion of the Sethusamudram canal around 11 a.m. Monday and rushed to office after the Supreme Court threatened to dismiss the government for not adhering to its ban on a state-wide shutdown.
While several ministers and central leaders of the DMK-led ruling coalition continued with their fast in the capital, the 83-year-old Karunanidhi ended his hunger strike after over three hours.
The protests were observed in other parts of the state, with leaders of DMK and its allies staging hunger strike in all districts. Public transport stayed off the roads in much of the state and many stayed away from offices and schools.
Shops were closed as well in large parts of the state like coastal Rameshwaram and Cuddalore where chemists, for instance, were politely told to stay shut. Only a few private vehicles could be seen as life came to a virtual standstill.
There was heavy security in the city and elsewhere as the strike by the ruling Progressive Democratic Alliance continued.
Union ministers G.K. Vasan of the Congress and T.R Baalu along with PMK founder S. Ramadoss, TNCC state president M. Krishnasamy, CPI-M leader N. Varadarajan, CPI national secretary D. Raja, Dravida Kazhagam leader K. Veeramani and Dalit Panthers of India founder T. Tirumavalavan were on strike too.
Besides, Karunanidhi’s daughter and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi, his son and minister M.K. Stalin and senior leaders like K. Anbazhagan were also protesting along with them.
The DMK fast formally began outside the Government Guest House near the Chepauk cricket stadium in Chennai at 8 a.m., a day after the Supreme Court restrained the ruling coalition from going ahead with a shutdown on the issue.
On Monday, the apex court followed its order by asking the central government why President’s rule could not be imposed in Tamil Nadu if the court’s order could not be implemented. The court was hearing a petition by the state’s main opposition party AIADMK, which said there was a shutdown Monday despite the court’s order.
“Communal forces are attempting to stop the Sethu project with an eye to elections,” the chief minister said as he began his protest.
“Only people’s power can achieve the Sethusamudram ship canal,” he told more than 1,000 supporters gathered with him for the fast.
“Not only will the people of Tamil Nadu benefit from it, entire south East Asia will benefit”, he said.
Unaware that the Supreme Court had said no to the shutdown called by DMK, massive crowds thronged the railway stations as people prepared to go out of town to take advantage of two successive holidays (Oct 1 and 2).
Karunanidhi was Sunday night urged by coalition partners not to undertake the fast.