DMK president M. Karunanidhi on Tuesday took exception to the remarks of Solicitor-General Mohan Parasaran, who had spoken about his belief in Lord Ram while declining to appear further for the government in a case related to the Sethusamudram ship canal project in the Supreme Court, as it involved destruction of ‘Ram Setu.’
“I don’t think it is correct on the part of Mr. Mohan Parasaran to speak like a communalist, at a time when the Centre has come forward to implement the project and informed the Supreme Court about it,” he told reporters here.
In remarks published online, Mr. Parasaran had said he did not want people to hold it against him. “I am privy to my belief. It is guaranteed in the Constitution, so I felt that it should be made clear at the earliest to the government,” he said.
He also said since his father, K. Parasaran, was appearing on behalf of the petitioners against the Sethusamudram project, he was recusing himself to avoid conflict of interest.
Mr. Karunanidhi said Mr Parasaran was the Solicitor General of a secular government and it is not clear whether he had identified himself as a communalist. “He has not quit his post, but only relieved himself from appearance in the Sethusamudram case. It is a project that will bring benefit to Tamil Nadu and its people,” he said.
Mr. Karunanidhi refused to comment on the allegation that many senior film personalities had not been invited for the centenary celebrations of Indian cinema organised by the State government and the South Indian Film Chambers.
