Tamil Nadu which once showed the path of social justice to the nation is now rift with incidents of caste animosity. The death of Ilavarasan, a Dalit boy who had married outside his caste, has brought shame to the State and parties indulging in sowing seeds of hatred should be isolated, said Vaiko, General Secretary, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(MDMK).
Addressing reporters in Madurai on Sunday, Mr. Vaiko said that MDMK demands a judicial probe into the death of Ilavarasan.
Following Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam treasurer M. K. Stalin’s criticism in an open meeting in Madurai on Vaiko’s stand on Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project, Vaiko said, “There is no change in MDMK’s stand on the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project, we reiterate that we want the project to be completed immediately, we do not accept the idea of Ramar Sethu.” “If the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam believes in Ramar Sethu that is their stand, being part of the same alliance does not mean that we have to compromise on our ideologies,” he added.
Mr. Vaiko stated that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s proposed agitation on Monday on the Sethusamudram project is humbug, all these years when they were part of the United Progressive Alliance they never organised protests or pushed forward the demand and now for gaining political mileage they are organising the protest. MDMK believes that the apprehensions of the coastal community about possible ecological damages as a result of the project should be cleared.
On Neyveli Lignite Corporation, he said not even one per cent of the shares should be disinvested no matter who is buying the shares.
Mr.Vaiko claimed that MDMK’s participation in all the struggles that affect the common man has made it popular among the youth in the social media circles and especially among Facebook users. The September 15 conference of the MDMK at Virudhunagar would be a turning point in the political history of Tamil Nadu, he added.