MADURAI: State president of Bharatiya Janata Party C.P. Radhakrishnan has accused Union Minister for Shipping T.R. Baalu of crossing the `Lakshman rekha' that separated a Government function and a party one.

He alleged that the Madurai function to signal launch of work on the Sethusamudram Canal Project on July 2, was being converted into a political one of the United Progressive Alliance with people's money. This, he said, violated all democratic conventions. While disagreeing with Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's contention that the project was being rushed through without giving due regard to environmental concerns, the BJP leader said the Sethu project gained momentum only after the National Democratic Alliance Government sanctioned funds for undertaking an environmental impact study.

He said Mr. Baalu ought to have invited Ms. Jayalalithaa in person for the function. The Centre should have elicited the full cooperation of the State Government for implementing the long-pending project. He accused the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam with compromising on its policy of state autonomy by being a party to "insulting a State Government." The DMK, he said, was once critical of advertisements published by NDA on its achievements. Now advertisements were being issued using public money with photographs and names of UPA leaders, some of whom were not even elected representatives of the people.

Referring to the Madras High Court verdict on the common entrance test for admission to professional courses, he said the State Government could constitute a committee of experts, without wasting time by approaching the Supreme Court, to formulate guidelines for admission to professional courses. A "small concession" for rural students was also essential, he said.

The BJP leader expressed concern over the recent murders in Madurai, including that of a Hindu Makkal Katchi functionary and wanted the Chief Minister to deal with such crimes with an iron hand. The Chief Minister should sanction a solatium of Rs. 5 lakhs to the family of the deceased Hindu leader, he said and wanted restoration of personal security for all Hindu leaders in the State.

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