The Congress would not allow violence in speech, writing and action in Tamil Nadu, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said here on Saturday.
Addressing a meeting organised to mark the 107th birth anniversary of the late Chief Minister K. Kamaraj he said Tamil Nadu was in the forefront of economic growth in the country because of peace prevailing in the State. "Violence in any form — speech, writing and action — in the State will derail progress," he said.
"Tamil Nadu Government was forced to arrest a person (Naam Tamizhar founder Seeman) under National Security Act for the violence in his speech. If violence in speech and writing is allowed, it will pave way for violence in action," the Union Minister warned.
He said that some forces were misleading the youth claiming that they could usher in prosperity through armed struggle. “Never in the history in any part of the world has there been progress through an armed struggle.” "As long as Congress is vibrant, it will not allow violence in any form," he said.
On the Centre's operation against Maoists in seven States, he said naxalism could be easily wiped out by sending in military. "But, it will lead to loss of lives. Para-military forces are trying to contain naxalites with severe restrictions," he added,
Eulogising Kamaraj's revolutionary schemes like free midday meal, free education and reservation policy, he said that Congress governments in the Centre and in States had been following the principles of Kamaraj. "The first amendment to Indian Constitution to ensure reservation for backward classes was mooted and implemented only because of the pressure put up by Kamaraj in 1951," he said.
The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president, K.V. Thangkabalu; E. V. K. S. Elangovan and S. Thirunavukarsar, former Union Ministers; B. Manicka Tagore, K. Alagiri, Ramasubbu and Viswanathan, MPs; D. Yasodha and H. Vasanthakumar, MLAs, were among those who spoke.
