Sunday, December 25 2005 15:07 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav today (Dec 25, 2005) called on DMK leader and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi at the latter's residence, when some pending railway projects came up for discussion.

Accompanied by his son, Tarun, cabinet colleague, R Velu and Southern Railway General Manager, Thomas Verghese, the Railway minister spent nearly 30 minutes with Karunanidhi.

Later, in an informal chat with newsmen, the minister said that he had come to Karunanidhi's residence to pay his 'respects' to the DMK leader. 'It was a courtesy call'.

"We are now together and will continue to be so to fight the communal forces for the uplift of the backward classes of society," he said in a brief remark.

The minister also offered worship at a temple in Gopalapuram, where Karunanidhi's residence is situated.

Yadav arrived here last night to participate in the valedictory of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Integral Coach Factory. He is scheduled to address his party men later this evening, besides attending the executive meeting of the state unit of the Rashtriya Janata Dal.

Earlier in the day, he had an eye check-up at the famous Sankara Nethralaya in the city.