Date:09/09/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/09/09/stories/2004090904400600.htm

Tamil Nadu

Rama Gopalan meets Karunanidhi

By Our Special Correspondent

Photo: K. Pichumani

The Hindu Munnani leader, Ramagopalan, and the DMK president, M. Karunanidhi, exchanging copies of the Bhagavad Gita and The Other Side of the Bhagavad Gita in Chennai on Wednesday.

CHENNAI, SEPT. 8. It was a meeting of opposites.

The Hindu Munnani leader, Rama Gopalan, met the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president, M. Karunanidhi, a rationalist, at the latter's residence this evening and handed over a copy of the Bhagvad Gita, published by Sri Ramakrishna Mutt.

Mr. Karunanidhi, who accepted the book, in turn, gave him a copy of the Dravida Kazhagam president, K. Veeramani's book, ``The other side of Gita''.

The meeting lasted just 15 minutes. Mr. Rama Gopalan arrived along with the Hindu Munnani vice-president, Durai Sekar, after worshipping at the Venugopala Swamy temple adjacent to Mr. Karunanidhi's house.

Police pickets were posted at Gopalapuram to prevent any untoward incident.

Talking to newsmen later, Mr. Karunanidhi said his intention was not to hurt anyone's feelings but to reply to the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa's views on the Bhagvad Gita.