CHENNAI: Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy on Wednesday said the Third Front should support Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, if he contested the Presidential election.

Talking to presspersons, Dr. Swamy said he told some leaders of the front that the first or second preference vote should be given to Mr. Shekhawat. He demanded that the Left parties give the real reason for opposing Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil's candidature.

Dr. Swamy said he met Defence Minister A.K. Antony a couple of days ago and gave him a letter that said the Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project was finalised without any input from the Navy, especially on the security angle. He wanted the Defence Ministry to review the project's present alignment.

Dr. Swamy said there should be a thorough probe to find out as to how the Bofors case accused Ottavio Quattrocchi escaped extradition proceedings in Argentina.

Criticising the Andhra Pradesh Government's decision to provide reservation for Muslims in government jobs, he said Muslims should seek equal opportunity in quality education instead of reservation. Reservation should be provided only to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Dr. Swamy said law and order was a big issue in Tamil Nadu now. There would be no law and order problem if politicians did not support criminals.

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