DMK chief M Karunanidhi lambasted Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran on Tuesday for recusing himself from the controversial Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project case in the Supreme Court. Mohan Parasaran had withdrawn from the case saying it would result in conflict of interest as his father Parasaran was appearing for one of the petitioners opposing the Rs 25,000-crore shipping channel project.
Speaking to reporters in Chennai, the DMK chief said the Solicitor General had quit the case because of his faith in lord Rama. Karunanidhi is known for his hatred for lord Rama. He had ridiculed the Hindus who believe that the Ram Sethu, a stone structure between India and Sri lanka in the Palk Bay, was built by lord Rama. “In which engineering college did this Rama graduateIJ” Karunanidhi has asked many times.
“A section of media reported that he had withdrawn from the case since he believed Ram built the Ram Sethu and that there will be a conflict of interest since his father K Parasaran is appearing for a petitioner,” he told reporters. Karunanidhi said that contrary to the stand of “secular” Central Government its Solicitor General had made comments which were “communal” in nature.
“Sethusamudram project is something which will benefit Tamil Nadu and its people. At a time when the Centre has come forward in the Supreme Court to implement it, senior advocates like Mohan Parasaran making statements like a communal element does not seem proper,” said Karunanidhi.
The Union Government on September 16 had told the SC that it would go ahead with the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project though the expert panel headed by RK Pachauri after a two-year study had said the project was not in public interest as it was not ecologically feasible and economically viable.
The Centre’s move is seen as a ploy to keep Karunanidhi in good humour to ensure his continued support to the UPA dispensation till the 2014 lok Sabha election.