BJP accuses MK Stalin of misleading people on Sethusamudram project

Tamil Nadu BJP chief Annamalai has accused Chief Minister MK Stalin of misleading people about the Sethusamudram ship canal project.

File photo of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin (Photo: File)

By Pramod Madhav: The BJP has accused Chief Minister MK Stalin of “misleading” people after the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution urging the Centre to implement the Sethusamudram ship canal project.

During the Assembly session, Stalin said the late AIADMK supremo, J Jayalalithaa, who had supported the project from the start, suddenly changed her stand and knocked on the doors of court against it. Had there been no political stumbling blocks, there would have been a lot of benefits after the project’s commissioning about 10 years ago.

But BJP state chief Annamalai claimed that the project might only benefit shipping companies owned by DMK leader Kanimozhi and TR Balu.

The BJP has said it will support the project only if it does not cause damage to Ram Setu.

“The chief minister has ignored the advice of Professor Tad S Murthy, who said the destruction of Ram Sethu could cause a tsunami in the region,” Annamalai said, adding that the project does not meet the 12 per cent annual return mandate set by government think tank Niti Aayog.

Annamalai also stated that backing the resolution in the Assembly should not be misconstrued as an acceptable form of alignment.

The canal would facilitate movement from Gulf of Munnar to Palk Straits. Coastal security would be strengthened, and the handling of transhipment cargo would not go to ports in foreign countries, including Sri Lanka. The distance and travelling time of ships would be reduced, and the cargo handling capacity would increase.

Read | MK Stalin moves resolution for reviving Sethu Samudhra Canal project, to seek Centre’s support