New Delhi: Dismissing apprehensions that his letter to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa relating to Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati would influence the judicial process, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Nov 27, 2004) said he had written it in view of the sentiments of the people and the large following the Seer has.

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Asked if his letter could affect the judicial process in the murder case the Pontiff was facing, he told reporters at Rashtrapati Bhavan that "no, I was taking into account the sentiments of the people. I do not want to create an issue out of a non-issue".

He said he had only stated in the letter that the investigation should be conducted with "extreme care and consideration", which was "endorsed" by the Chief Minister. The Shankaracharya, the Prime Minister said, has a "large following".

In his letter excerpts of which were released to the press on Nov 25, 2004 the Prime Minister said, "An investigation involving a person of his (Shankaracharya's) eminence needs to be conducted with extreme care and consideration".

He requested Tamil Nadu Government to "take all such measures as appropriate to ensure the physical well being" of the Seer.