By IANS
New Delhi/Chennai : Enraged over the non-compliance of its order banning a general shutdown in Tamil Nadu, the Supreme Court Monday threatened the dismissal of the state government and warned that contempt of court proceedings may be initiated against Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and the state chief secretary.
The apex court asked the central government why president’s rule could not be imposed in Tamil Nadu if the court’s order could not be implemented. It was hearing a petition by the state’s major opposition party AIADMK which said there was a shutdown Monday despite the court’s order.
In the state capital Chennai, offices and schools stayed open Monday morning, but attendance was reported to be thin, and there were fewer buses than usual on the roads, as Karunanidhi began a daylong fast with several cabinet colleagues to demand the completion of the Sethusamudram shipping canal.
The DMK fast formally began outside the Government Guest House in Chepauk 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.
“Communal forces are attempting to stop the Sethu project with an eye to elections,” the chief minister said as he began his protest. Left and PMK leaders and PMK leaders are also sitting beside him.
Reports from various parts of the state said buses were completely off the roads.
Unaware that the Supreme Court had said no to the shutdown called by the 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).
As news came in Sunday of the Supreme Court staying the protest shutdown on a plea by the opposition AIADMK, the 83-year-old chief minister announced his decision to sit on a fast along with other leaders of his Progressive Democratic Alliance.
He was urged by coalition partners Sunday night not to undertake the fast.
“I will decide later on how long to fast,” Karunanidhi told PMK leader S. Ramadoss.
Addressing a public meeting late Sunday night in Mylapore, in the heart of the state capital, Karunanidhi said he would not rest until “religious fanaticism is defeated by the coalition in Tamil Nadu and the Sethu project is implemented”.
He asked the Tamil people to join the fast to press for the Sethusamudram canal.