Criticising the State government for its submission before the Supreme Court for scrapping the Sethusamudram project, DMK president M. Karunanidhi wondered whether the ruling AIADMK had denounced it own policy on the issue.
The State government had asked the Supreme Court to direct the Centre not to implement the Sethusamudram project, given that the Gulf of Mannar and surrounding areas were extremely eco-fragile, and the economic values of the project were questionable.
Recalling the AIADMK manifesto for the 2004 Lok Sabha polls, which made a strong case for the implementation of the Sethusamudram project, Mr. Karunanidhi said if Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had turned against the project could it mean that she was not in agreement with her own manifesto. “Does she oppose the project supported by her political mentor MGR,” he said.
Mr. Karunanidhi said the manifesto had accused the DMK, MDMK and PMK of not taking adequate steps to implement the project even though these parties were part of the Congress-led UPA at the Centre.
CPI (M) stand CPI (M) State secretary G. Ramakrishnan said his party was consistent in its stand that the project should be implemented at any cost. “It will bring prosperity and employment opportunity to the southern districts of Tamil Nadu,” he said.
