Karunanidhi leads DPA leaders in state-wide fast

A day after the Supreme Court stayed the Tamil Nadu bandh called by the DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance for Monday, DPA leaders led by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi began a state-wide day long fast to press demanding speedy implementation of the Sethusamudram project.

The chief minister had clarified on Sunday that the fast was not against the apex court ruling.

While Karunanidhi and DPA leaders are observing the fast in front of the Government Guest House in Chennai, workers of the alliance are observing it in front of all district and taluk headquarters in the state.

Alliance leaders, including PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss, TNCC state president M Krishnasamy, CPI(M) leader N Vardarajan, CPI national secretary D Raja, Dravida Kazhagam leader K Veeramani, Dalit Panthers of India founder Tol Tirumavalavan, besides Union Shipping Minister T R Baalu and Minister of State for Statistics, G K Vasan are participating in the fast.

Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi, a Rajya Sabha MP and his son, the local administration minister M K Stalin, besides electricity minister Arcot Veerasamy and finance minister K Anbazhagan also joined them in the fast.