By IANS
Chennai : Defending the Sethusamudram shipping canal project, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi Thursday said his government would have no problem in naming it after Hindu god Ram to ensure its completion.
Responding to Leader of Opposition J. Jayalalitha’s criticism, Karunanidhi told the assembly: “Now she is saying that I dislike Lord Ram implying that the DMK regime is against Hindu beliefs.
“We have no problem in naming the (Sethusamudram) scheme after Lord Ram because we only want its completion and, through it, the prosperity of the Tamils.”
The DMK government has been pushing for the project in the sea dividing India and Sri Lanka. However, several Hindu groups have opposed the plan saying it will destroy the Ram Sethu, which they believe dates back to the time of Ram.
“This government follows the dictum pronounced by our late leader and founder C.N. Annadurai. He said, ‘there is only one clan and one god.’ Therefore, for us, Ram, Jesus and Prophet Mohammed are one and the same. We do not wish to assail anybody’s feelings,” Karunanidhi said.
He also replied to Jayalalitha’s statement Wednesday that there was a threat to her life and the DMK government was doing little to provide full security to her.
“Making baseless but serious allegations against opponents is nothing new to Jayalalitha. Once she had said that former chief minister M.G. Ramachandran was given poisoned buttermilk,” he said.
“We do not believe in killing opposition leaders. All those concerned ought to discern the motives behind the opposition (leader’s) charges,” he said.