Karunanidhi's remarks on Lord Ram spark legal row

BEING ATHEIST: Tamil Nadu CM has been accused of outraging Hindus' religious sentiments.

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Keywords: Ram Setu, Karunanidhi

New Delhi: While Karunanidhi gets the Left's support on the Sethusamudram project, an advocate has now filed a case in the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court demanding action against him.

Advocate R K Venkatesh, who is also the Joint Secretary of the (South Chennai) AIADMK, filed a petition in the Court stating that Karunanidhi's speech had been made with “malicious intention” to outrage the religious feelings of followers of Hinduism.

Venkatesh has sought action under Section 295 A and 298 of the Indian Penal Code - requesting the court to direct the Chennai Commissioner of Police to file an FIR under Section 156 of the Criminal Procedure Code and initiate action against the CM.

The complainant criticised Karunanidhi's comments on Lord Ram.

“He is in a responsible post. So don't you think he should be all the more responsible in his words? He's hurt the religious sentiments of a community. Will he have the audacity to address the same to the Muslim community or the Christian community?” said Venkatesh.

Though the Central Government had withdrawn its affidavit filed in the Supreme Court on the Rama Setu-Adam’s Bridge issue, the Chief Minister had been repeating his statement. It was a matter of belief that Lord Rama used the Setu to cross the sea to reach Sri Lanka.

Tirumala Tirupati Devastanam (TTD), managing the affairs of the Lord Venketeswara temple, has also expressed its 'unhappiness' over Karunanidhi's recent remarks on Lord Ram.

Without taking Karunanidhi's name, TTD chairman, B Karunakara Reddy on Friday told reporters that the temple administration was "unhappy" over the remarks made against Lord Ram and the epic Ramayan by "some political quarters".

He also advised the politicians to stop making "negative comments" immediately on Hindu Gods and hurting the centuries-old sentiments of people professing the religion.

However, he declined to comment on Ram Setu and the Sethusamudram project.

(With inputs from agencies)