Idli, dosa cheaper on Karunanidhi's 85th birthday

If you love eating idli, dosa, vada and pongal -- then you have a reason to smile.

These food items will be cheaper by 10 to 15 per cent from Tuesday in Tamil Nadu.

This is Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's birthday gift to the people of the state. He turned 85 today.

Restaurants across the state have reduced prices of the popular delicacies on the occasion.

"This is something we are giving back in the honour of one of the great leaders of Tamil Nadu," Rajagopal, owner of a leading chain of vegetarian restaurants in Chennai, said.

At a meeting with Food Minister E V Velu in Chennai on Monday, representatives of the Hotel Owners' Association decided to reduce the prices of the popular dishes and tea by about 10 to 15 per cent.

Asked whether the government will give some subsidy, Rajagopal said, "Our association has asked for the subsidy, but I think it is not possible to give subsidy for all the dishes. It is gift for the people and the Tamil Nadu government on Karunanidhi's 85th birthday by the Hotel Owner's Association," he said.

The rates of meals would also be reduced.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh greeted Karunanidhi on his birthday.

An official press release said Dr Singh conveyed his greetings to Karunanidhi over phone on Tuesday morning.

During the course of their conversation, Karunanidhi recalled that he had expressed his desire to rechristen the Sethusamudram project as 'Sethu Ram' and requested the prime minister to implement the project under the new name.

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general council on Monday had also passed a resolution impressing upon the Centre for early implementation of the project.

Karunanidhi had on Sunday, in a birthday message, proposed to rename his pet project as Sethu Ram, following opposition to the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project from pro-Hindu groups protesting the demolition of Ram Sethu (Adam's Bridge) as part of the project.

Karunanidhi began the day by planting a sapling, where he called for speedy implementation of the SSCP, locked in a legal battle.

The Supreme Court had suggested that the government explore alternative alignments to implment it without damaging Ram Sethu.

Party cadres, young and old, as well as top rung leaders geared themselves up to greet the chief minister.