DMK MP and former union minister TR Baalu made a controversial statement saying he will chop off the hands of whoever touches his party president and DMK MP and former union minister TR Baalu. Speaking at an event organised in support of the Sethusamudram project in Madurai, the DMK leader spoke about his efforts for the project. Baalu said, “I will chop off the hands of anyone who touches my party president and Chief Minister MK Stalin, or Dravidar Kazhagam chief K Veeramani. This is my dharma.” The DMK MP criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre for halting the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project project. He said the Centre’s decision to stop the project is like abruptly halting a train midway. He alleged that the central government is halting the project without applying scientific or rational thinking and instead following religious lines. The DMK leader claimed the project would have now brought a profit of Rs 750 crore per annum. Baalu said on many occasions compromised religious beliefs to complete development projects. He said, “In my constituency, Sarasawathi Temple, Lakshmi temple and Parvathi temple on GST were demolished. I only demolished all these three temples. I know I will not get votes but I also know how to get votes. My supporters even warned me that if temples were demolished, I will not get votes. But I told them there is no other way.” “I told the need a temple. I constructed better temples with better facilities. Like this, in many places, I have convinced religious beliefs and completed projects,” added the DMK MP. Earlier this month, the Tamil Nadu assembly passed a resolution urging the Centre to implement the Sethusamudram Project without further delay.