Member of Parliament Sriperumpudur Constituency Leader, DMK Party in Parliament, New Delhi. ‘Tamilnadu T.R.BAALU, M.P. 10" July, 2020 Hon'ble Prime Minister Sir, Vowrak, mows, On behalf of my leader Dr. M. K. Stalin, President of DMK and on behalf of my party, | am writing this letter to you on a matter of great importance and concer to the people of Tamil Nadu, that is, restoring of the Sethu Samudram Project works. Though the letter may be a bit longish, given the significance of the matter, | appeal to you to kindly peruse it with Patience and consideration it deserves. 2. As you are aware, the DMK Party has stood behind you solidly in the ongoing clashes with our aggressive neighbour China. This was expressed by my leader and DMK President Dr.M.K.Stalin very candidly in his speech at the All Party meeting called by you recently. 3. In the wake of the current conflict with China, we need to appreciate that besides our long borders in North west and North east from Punjab to Arunachal Pradesh, the Southern coastal borders, in particular the sea in between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka, has assumed critical importance from security point of view. The way in which China is moving closer to Sri Lanka will never be in our national interest. | hope you are aware of the massive investments. in vital sectors that China has made in Sri Lanka in the last few years so much so that it will endanger the sovereignty of the island neighbour, situated hardly 30 km away from Tamil Nadu. From 2010, Chinese has pumped into Sri Lanka a whopping USD 7048 millions in huge projects comprising Expressways , Ports, Reality projects, Colombo Port City \Norocholai power station, etc. Hambantota Port located in PM Mahinda Rajapakse's constituency ,which is close to international Sea route on which thousands of container ships pass daily, has been taken over by China in 2017 as Sri Lanka defaulted on the loan of 1.1billion dollars gave by China in 2010. These investments have made Sri Lankan people perceive that, as a friend and ally, China is more preferable than India. In such a scenario, we ‘may not rule out Sri Lanka becoming another Nepal very soon. Residence : No.10, Raisina Road, New Delhi - 110 001. No. 29, Raman Street, T.Nagar, Chennai - 600 017. Ph: O11 - 23321010, 044 - 28150202, Mobile: 94441 41400. Scanned with CamScannerLeader, DMK Party in Parliament, New Delhi. Member of Parliament Sriperumpudur Constituency ‘Tamilnadu 4. Further, in the context of China's military overreach in the South China Sea , the ASEAN members have joined together and are raising a chorus of resentment. From Indian perspective, our national security policy needs to encompass the entire expanse of the Asia Pacific and upto Persian gulf. Recognising that Southern India is the fulcrum of the region between Suez and South China Sea , Government of India under your leadership has already taken up buttressing our tri-military capabilities in Andaman area. LIKE WISE, SOUTHERN TAMIL NADU COAST SPECIALLY THE ADAMS BRIDGE AND SETHU SAMUDRAM AREAS HAVE IMMENSE GEOSTRATEGIC VALUE AS IT IS PART OF THE INDIA'S MARITIME STRATEGIC LIFE LINE AND THE WORLD'S MOST IMPORTANT GLOBAL SEA LANE. 5. Viewed in this context, the abandoned Sethu Samudram Project has now assumed greater strategic and security importance to India. In fact, one of the prime considerations for taking up the Sethu Samudram project was the strong recommendation of the Ministry of Defence from security angle. The 150 years dream project of Tamil Nadu saw the hope of becoming a reality when the Rs 2400 Crores Ship Channel Project works were inaugurated 15 years ago on 2.7.2005 by Dr. Manmohan Singh (Former Prime Minister) in the immediate presence of my leader Dr. Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi and Mrs. Sonia Gandhi at Madurai when the whole Tamil Nadu was overwhelmed by a sense of great joy and success. When the works were progressing smoothly, certain elements inimical to the national security and economic prosperity of India, schemed and misled the judiciary by invoking irrelevant and religious beliefs and succeeded in their designs to stall the prestigious Ship Channel project activities. It is now over 12 long years since the project works have come to a standstill. 6. You are well aware that this Project was dear to many Political giants and great sons of this country like Anna, Kamaraj, Kalaignar and Atalji. In fact, because of the long cherished mutual affection and esteem between Atalji and Kalaignar, and also the great regard that Anna and Atalji had for each other as Colleagues in Rajya Sabha in early 1960s, the Sethu Samudram project got life with the approval of Feasibility Study by NDA Government headed by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji. | must share with you here my personal knowledge that Atalji expressed his immense happiness and blessings when | invited him to the project inaugural function in 2005 at Madurai. Let me quote his words, "This is my project; 'm so happy" and | was also happy to accept his wishes. Residence : No.10, Raisina Road, New Delhi - 110 001. No. 29, Raman Street, T.Nagar, Chennai - 600 017. Ph: 011 - 23321010, 044 - 28150202, Mobile: 94441 41400. Scanned with CamScannerLeader, DMK Party in Parliament, New Delhi. Member of Parliament Sriperumpudur Constituency ‘Tamilnadu T.R.BAALU, M.P. 7. Having regard to the immense strategic, security value and maritime importance, | appeal to you to take a Statesman's perspective in the matter and recommence the Sethu Samudram project works without further loss of precious time, as ship Channel route was finalized by NEERI, a well reputed Central Government institution after a careful and independent study of all relevant aspects, as the Channel route posed zero disturbance to the 80 called Ramar Palam i.e. Adam's bridge. | must mention that 65 percent of the ships which presently call at our ports can navigate in the Channel as per the present design. 8. Every Prime Minister of India has gifted something very dear to the people of Tamil Nadu. The list includes BHEL Trichy, ICF Chennai, Neiveli Lignite Corporation, Tank Factory, Avadi, Salem Steel Plant, Chennai Metro Rail and 27 percent Reservation to OBCs, etc. As one of the long serving Prime Ministers of india, it should be to your credit that as an incomparable gift to Tamil Nadu, Sethu Samudram project works are completed during your reign. and the first ship sails through the ship Channel by the Pongal of 2024. 9. PM Sir, the country knows and acknowledges that you are a devout and proud practitioner of Hinduism and its time honoured tenets. So, | am sure that you will be knowing the words of wisdom said by Saint Ramakrishna Paramahamsar, which | quote below :- "TO DISPELLCONFUSION" God himself is theist; He is also atheist. He is good and he is bad. He is real; He is unreal. Sleep and woken up, both states are His. He transcends all states. If this truth is learnt all doubts and confusions will be dispelled ". 10. Sir, | hope you will bestow your valuable personal attention on this matter guided by the words of Saint Ramakrishna to remove the confusion and controversy surrounding the Sethu Samudram project and ensure completion of the Project so that the people of Tamil Nadu will remember and remain indebted to you for ever. With warm regards, Yours sincerely, “Sd- (T.R. BAALU, MP) Leader of DMK Party in Parliament. Thiru Narendra Modi ji Hon'ble Prime Minister 7, Lok Kalyan Marg New Delhi Residence : No.10, Raisina Road, New Delhi - 110 001. No. 29, Raman Street, T.Nagar, Chennal - 600 017. Ph: 011 - 23321010, 044 - 28150202, Mobile: 94441 41400. Scanned with CamScanner