The Hindu : `DMK will quit NDA if temple is built on disputed site'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 04, 2002

National

National

`DMK will quit NDA if temple is built on disputed site'
By Our Staff Reporter

KUMBAKONAM, MARCH 3. The DMK will come out of the NDA alliance, if construction of a Ram temple is taken up at the disputed site, the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president, M. Karunanidhi, said here today.

Speaking at a marriage function, (marriage of the son of the former Minister Ko.Si.Mani) Mr. Karunanidhi said the DMK, however, was not against construction of a Ram temple. It was against construction of the temple at the disputed site.

The DMK president said there could not be a secular front and there could only be a secular government. Leaders of political parties in a front could belong to various religions and they could not be expected to be secular unless they were like the DMK or Communists who did not have belief in religion. But it could not be expected of every leader as he might belong to a particular religion and had belief in it. So only religious harmony could be expected of a front.

The DMK allied with the BJP as the National Democratic Alliance had announced that the interest of the minorities community would be protected. If there was any change in that assurance, the DMK would not hesitate to walk out of the alliance.

Violence in Gujarat should not be politicised. Instead of investigating who started first - the minority or the majority - everyone should work for bringing peace in Gujarat.

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