http://www.indianexpress.com/story/229201.html
Sethu issue: Now, Rajnikanth urges Karunanidhi to step in Express News Service Posted online: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at 0000 hrs CHENNAI, OCTOBER 16: The Ram Sethu issue once again took centrestage in Chennai, this time on an unusual platform, with superstar Rajnikanth urging Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, the chief guest at the state film awards function on Tuesday, to use his political clout and "good offices" at the Centre to resolve the deadlock stalling the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project. Though the occasion was not the most appropriate one to raise the issue, as a citizen he was compelled to speak about it, the actor said, adding that while both positive and negative views had been aired on the issue, "there were efforts to blow it out of proportion." Being a senior political leader in the country, Karunanidhi "should find a good solution to the problem using his political clout with the national leaders," Rajnikanth said. Later, when his turn came to speak, Karunanidhi retorted that the 'superstar,' who had the opportunity to travel to Himalayas, should inform the samiyarkal (rishis) that though he (Karunanidhi) was an atheist, he was not a 'Ram hater.' The fact that his mentor was E V Ramasamy Naicker (or Periyar as the late Dravidar Kazhagam founder-leader was referred to) itself would prove that, Karunanidhi said. "If the samiyarkal knew the truth, then the country would come to its senses," he added. The superstar should keep in mind that the DMK had been functioning as a rationalist movement for many years and the party had been successful, propagating this ideology, he said, adding that neither he nor his party were enemies of Ram. Caste, creed or religion should not be allowed to come in the way of Sethusamudram project, meant for the people, Karunanidhi said. The Ramayana,' he pointed out, was not history, but a story written by Valmiki.
