Tamil Nationalist Movement leader P Nedumaran called off his indefinite fast on the fourth day on Saturday, following an assurance from Chief Minister M Karunanidhi that he will take steps for the dispatch of relief materials to the suffering Eelam Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Karunanidhi gave this assurance to his emissary and Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S Ramadoss, who in turn called on septuagenarian leader at the fasting venue in Chennai and conveyed the message.
Ramadoss told Nedumaran that the chief minister had assured he will take necessary steps to distribute food and medicine collected by the TNM leader for the Tamils in Jaffna.
For his part, the PMK leader assured that he also supported his cause and would stand with the TNM leader in his endeavour, following which Nedumaran ended his fast by accepting a glass of orange juice offered by Dr Ramadoss, also a known supporter of Eelam Tamils.
Seventyfour-year-old Nedumaran, a staunch supporter of the banned LTTE, commenced his fast-unto-death on September 12 after he made a vain bid to carry relief materials to the Sri Lankan Tamils from Nagapattinam.
Dr Kalanidhi was examining his health condition when Dr Ramadoss came with the chief minister's message. After he ended his fast, Nedumaran was taken to his clinic for further examination.
Nedumaran's decision to end his fast came barely a couple of hours after Karunanidhi expressed regret that the leader had turned down his appeal to give up the fast.
Karunanidhi said those who had vouched for the implementation of Sethusamudram project in their election manifestos, were then opposing the project. Quoting economists and experts, the DMK leader said the project, when implemented would bring economic prosperity to the state.
"Vessels, which now take a circuitous route around Sri Lanka, can pass through the channel, saving time and expenses," he said.
However, some people opposed the project in the name of God and protested against the demoliton of 'Ram Sethu,' saying it was built 16 lakh years ago by Lord Ram, Karunanidhi said.
Nedumaran began his fast on September 12 after he was prevented from undertaking a boat journey to Jaffna in the island nation from Nagapattinam port, carrying the relief materials for the Tamils, and continued the same at a private place after his return to the city the next day.
Earlier, doctors, who examined Nedumaran on Saturday morning, expressed concern over his health condition. There was a rise in sugar level. His blood pressure was low and pulse rate was slow, family sources quoting doctors told UNI.