The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Madurai News : Now he ministers to students

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 01, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Now he ministers to students

S. Sundar

FOR SMOOTH SAILING: T. R. Baalu keeping in rapt attention students of Sethupati Higher Secondary School in the city on Thursday. — Photo: K. Ganesan

MADURAI: This time he had a different audience. And he donned a different garb, that of a teacher.

The Union Minister of Shipping, T.R. Baalu, turned a teacher on Thursday to explain the Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project to students of Sethupati Higher Secondary School, where he inaugurated an exhibition on the project.

Initially, the students showed signs of no interest when he traced the history of the project since 1860.

Sensing that they were restive, the Minister changed course — giving details on what would interest them. When he said, "We can save time, diesel and also huge foreign exchange spent on fuel." And the students started getting attentive.

He got them engrossed by presenting a hypothetical situation, wherein the neighbouring Sri Lanka would become an ally of the US and the alliance might turn inimical towards India.

"How can our ships move from one coast to another around Sri Lanka (in a hostile situation)?" he asked.

"It is in this (security) aspect, the project will help us protect ourselves from the `enemy,'" he said.

Then it was time to target the students themselves. "How do you expect to get a job when you complete your degree?" Mr. Baalu pointed out that the project would generate employment for not less than 5,000 people. Further, it would boost the country's economy manifold.

He asked them like a teacher, "Do you want such a project to come up or not?" And the answer was on expected lines — a big "yes." Mr. Baalu exhorted the students to explain its benefits to their parents and others at home.

Prompted by one of his aides, Mr. Baalu announced that the High Court had just then dismissed a petition challenging the implementation of the Sethusamudram project.

Mr. Baalu's `lecture' had a happy ending with a roaring applause.

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