Sharply reacting to the former BJP MP Ram Vilas Vedanti’s “beheading threat” to DMK chief M Karunanidhi, another DMK leader and cabinet minister T R Baalu has asked  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take strong action against the former MP.

“The government should take immediate action to put an end to unlawful, undemocratic, provocative attitude of persons like Vedanti who are driven by fundamentalist forces,” the DMK leader said in a letter. 
Taking objections to  Karunanidhi’s remarks on Rama, the former MP had reportedly said on Friday that no one has the right to question the existence of Rama. He allegedly had also stated that anyone who would behead Karunanidhi would be weighed in gold in Ayodhya.

However, on Sunday Vedanti has denied issuing a fatwa against the Tamil stalwart.

“I never said anyone beheading Karunanidhi will be weighed in gold by the saints of Ayodhya. I had simply quoted the religious books and Bhagwat Gita on the punishment prescribed for blasphemy,” Vedanti said in Ayodhya.

“The religious books say that a person indulging in blasphemy should be sentenced to death and his tongue should be cut off and I still stand by it,” observed the VHP leader.

“The media twisted my remarks... I have been a member of the Lok Sabha and swear by the Indian Constitution... I can never say anything that is against the Constitution,” he added.

In his letter Baalu reminded the Prime Minister that on various occasions in the past whenever the DMK patriarch was imprisoned even for political reasons, a number of people have sacrificed their lives driven by their deep sense of affection, reverence and veneration for  him.

Noting that the “barbarous and heinous” threat on the life of Karunanidhi has sent shock waves across the Tamil community, he said,”already the atmosphere in the state is charged with emotions and nothing should be done to develop unimaginable turmoil leading to a flash point.”

Vedanti denies issuing fatwa
Ayodhya, PTI: Senior VHP leader Ram Vilas Vedanti on Sunday  denied having issued any fatwa against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi for the latter’s comments on Lord Ram and claimed the media had “twisted” his remarks.

“I never said that anyone beheading Karunanidhi will be weighed in gold by the saints of Ayodhya. I had simply quoted the religious books and the Bhagwad Gita on the punishment prescribed for blasphemy,” the former BJP MP told PTI here.

Vedanti had reportedly said on Friday that anyone beheading Karunanidhi would be weighed in gold by the saints of Ayodhya.

“The religious books and Gita say that a person indulging in blasphemy should be sentenced to death and his tongue should be cut off and I still stand by it,” he said.

“The media twisted my remarks. I have been a member of the Lok Sabha and swear by the Indian Constitution. I can never say anything which is against the Constitution,” Vedanti said.

He referred to the fatwa issued by the former Uttar Pradesh minister Haji Yaqoob Qureshi against the Danish cartoonist who had caricatured Prophet Muhammad and said no hue and cry was made then.

“Why is there such hue and cry when there is a reaction in the Hindu society and the saints?” Vedanti questioned.

Terming Karunanidhi as a descendant of the demon king Ravana, Vedanti said, “No one had the right to question the existence of Ram”.

He also challenged Karunanidhi to a debate on his claims about Lord Ram.