The ruling DMK and its alliance partners have decided to observe a day-long fast on Monday, after the Supreme Court on Sunday restrained to observe Tamil Nadu Bandh on October 1. The party will press their demand for speedy implementation of Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project.

Reacting strongly to the court order, DMK chief and Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi said, ?There are some bulls hindering Tamil Nadu?s progress. We are holding this hunger strike to counter them and to implement Sethusamudram project.?

Explaining the need for the hunger strike, Karunanidhi said it was for the removal of ?nandis? (obstacles) in the way of project in the backdrop of the apex court?s ruling against the proposed Bandh.

Soon after the news of the stay tickled in, Karunanidhi said he contacted all the leaders of the ruling DPA alliance and a decision to observe a fast taken after consultation with them.

?Alliance leaders will also observe fast in the district and taluk headquarters throughout the state, he said, adding that he would be leading the fast at Chennai in front of the state guest house.

Earlier on Sunday, the Supreme Court?after a three-hour special hearing?had stayed a statewide bandh called by the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu on October 1. Opposition AIADMK had approached the apex court saying the bandh is unconstitutional and the court especially met on a Sunday, a rare occurrence, to dispose of the petition.

The Supreme Court had agreed to hold the special hearing on Sunday, after AIADMK pleaded that any order on the issue would become hard to implement if not issued by Sunday.

Earlier, the Madras High Court had allowed the bandh on the condition that law and order would be maintained, and people would not be put to any inconvenience.

In another development, former president of Puducherry unit of the BJP R Kesavelu charged Karunanidhi with having made mockery of the cult of ?Ram Bakthi? championed by Mahatma Gandhi by his ?derogatory? remarks against Lord Ram.

In an apparent bid to silence critics of his recent remarks against Lord Ram, Karunanidhi had on Saturday said there was no connection between Ram and the Ram Setu did not mean that he was inimical to Lord Ram. ?Is it wrong to say that there is no connection between Lord Ram and Ram Setu? Are we enemies of Ram?? he said.

Karunanidhi, whose earlier remarks that Lord Ram was an imaginary character had triggered protests from BJP and others, said he was only appealing to those who were objecting the Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project not to stall it by invoking the name of the God.