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NT Bureau
Chennai, Sept 23:

        A spiritual leader has taken exception to Chief Minister M Karunanidhi remarks calling Lord Rama as a drunkard.

        The spiritualist Vishvesha Tirtha Swami of Pejawar Mutt in Karnataka's Udupi district at a press conference here yesterday wondered aloud that when the Chief Minister had said that Lord Rama actually drinks, why can't he (the Chief Minister) accept that Ramar-Sethu bridge was constructed by the same Rama.

        Elaborating on it, the Swami said that Rama only drank the juice of a creeper and it was 'honey' and not liquor.

        At this juncture, he quoted actor and politician Sarath Kumar's words that the drink 'somabanam' actually meant honey and not alcohol as mentioned by Karunanidhi.

        He also said, 'If the Chief Minister had called BJP senior leader L K Advani for a debate on Rama-Sethu bridge, the former can also have a debate with me, too.'

        When his comments were sought on Union Transport and Shipping Minister T R Baalu's remarks that those who took up this Rama-Sethu issue would be called as 'religious fundamentalists', the Swami said it was all about faith and there was no inter-community rivalry.

        He said as a Minister, Baalu should respect the sentiments of crores of Hindus.