Chaitra Krushna Ashtami
Press Release
Janata Party President and former Union Cabinet Minister, Dr. Subramanian Swamy today circulated a letter to the petitioners in the Rama Setu case in the Supreme Court to seek time on Monday [when the Union of India is making a mention before the Chief Justice for a priority listing] to file an interloculatory application to extend the Stay granted on August 31, 2007 against the damaging or destroying of the Rama Setu, to staying the entire Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project [SSCP] till the certain urgent matters of conflict of interest are heard by the Court.
In his interloculatory application, it is learnt that Dr. Swamy has documented how the ship channel project will profoundly benefit Union Shipping Minister Mr. T.R. Baalu’s sons and two wives [which itself is a criminal offence itself under Section 494 of IPC and carries a seven year punishment] as large shares of owners of Meenam Fisheries Limited as well as the Tamil Chief Minister Mr. M. Karunanidhi’s wife Rajathiamma and daughter Kanimozhi as major share holders of Westgate Logistics Limited. Both companies will directly benefit from the project because at present Meenam’s fishing trawlers and motorised boats presently have to travel from Port Blair to Kakinada for a longer distance around Sri Lanka for sea food exports [ about $ 2 million in value annually]. Westgate business will also boom once the project is implemented because it’s main business is stevedoring, piloting and customs & freight handling which with the claimed increased ship traffic from Tuticorin to Chennai and to Kolkatta will increase business of the Westgate Logistics. Dr. Swamy has pointed out in his application to the Supreme Court that both Baalu and Kanimozhi have admitted owning shares in these companies in their affidavits filed as candidates in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha elections respectively.
Dr. Swamy has also written to the Prime Minister seeking sanction to prosecute Mr. Baalu under Section 11 and 13 of the Prevention of Corrupton Act. He told Jaya TV that he was examining whether to ask the TN Governor for sanction to prosecute the Chief Minister Mr. Karunanidhi for the same reason.
He also said that he is examining whether the recent contract given for dredging in the SSCP by the Dredging Corporation of India to the Belgian company, Dredger International had anything to do with Ms. Sonia Gandhi’s receiving the Belgian King Leopold Golden Cross medal and honorary citizenship. Officers of the Dredger International were in attendance when Ms. Gandhi went to Brussels to kneel before the King and receive the award. The Election Commission has yet to pronounce on her MP disqualification petition on this matter, after sending her a Notice.
– Dr. Subramanian Swamy
