Dravidar Kazhagam president K. Veeramani on Tuesday said that MDMK founder Vaiko will act as Ravanan in a play titled ‘Needhi Devan Mayakkam’, written by former Chief Minister and Dravidian stalwart C.N. Annadurai.
“It was a play in which Annadurai himself played Ravanan and Perasiriyar Anbazhagan (DMK general secretary) played Needhi Devan. (Now) Vaiko will act as Ravanan in the play,” he said at a function in Periyar Thidal to celebrate the 102nd year of inception of the erstwhile Justice Party.
Mr. Veeramani demanded that local body elections be held immediately. The Centre should not dismiss the concerns of the States, he said.
“Nobody can destroy the basic ideology of Dravidian movement. It exists in every household — because of this movement socially backward and oppressed are educated and have jobs today. It is a cultural movement, not just a political one,” he added.
Earlier, Mr. Vaiko said: what could not have happened in the 1930s or 80s...was happening in 2017 and 2018. “A person is saying that Periyar statues should be demolished. I dare him to announce the day and time when he intends to demolish the statue, I will be there,” Mr Vaiko said.
Speaking about why Dravidian movement is important, he said, Dravidian movement is necessary to safeguard whatever rights we have managed to win in the last few decades. It is necessary to stop hegemony of north indian languages, to preserve our culture, to stop plundering Tamil Nadu's resources.
He criticised Prime Minister Modi for not treating Tamil Nadu with respect.
