Thanjavur: Taking head on DMK nominee and former Union Minister TR Baalu, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Saturday accused him and his party of forcefully pushing the controversial Sethusamudram Project to further their business interests.
Addressing an election rally at this Cauvery heartland and also the 'Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu,' from where Baalu is contesting, Jayalalithaa, in a blistering attack, charged that the family members of Baalu and Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi have investment in shipping companies.
The spouses of Baalu -- Porkodi and Renukadevi have shares in Meenam Fisheries Limited, which also own ships. Likewise Kanimozhi owns shares in Westgate Logistics, Jayalalithaa charged.
"Baalu should now disclose how many types of ships do these companies own and whether they can pass through Sethusamudram Channel and the type of profit the company would reap because of the project," Jayalalithaa demanded.
DMK was still batting for Sethusamudram Project, even after an expert committee headed by RK Pachauri, declared that the project was not economically viable and environmentally feasible, she said.
Continuing her attack on Baalu, who has shifted from Sriperumbudur constituency to Thanjavur, Jayalalithaa posed to the gathering "what has Baalu done to Thanjavur? It was Baalu, who tried to bring in Cauvery Delta Coal-bed Methane Project, which would have turned the fertile rice bowl lands into barren ones."
She assured that her government would never allow such projects which would affect livelihood of farmers.
She also accused DMK chief Karunanidhi of not protecting Tamil Nadu's interests in the Cauvery issue, despite being part of the Centre for more than nine years.
"Karunanidhi was interested in furthering the business prospects of his family in Karnataka rather than securing justice to Tamil Nadu in Cauvery water sharing issue."
She called upon the people to "deal a deadly blow" to DMK, which she charged "betrayed" the state on the Cauvery issue and ensure that Congress candidates forfeit deposit in all constituencies. She also addressed a rally at Tiruchirapalli.
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