Vaiko takes up issue of military support for Lanka with Modi

A file photo of MDMK founder Vaiko.

The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance in the Lok Sabha elections will mark the beginning of an effort to provide an alternative to both the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in the State, MDMK general secretary Vaiko said here on Sunday.

Speaking at the wedding of a party functionary, Mr. Vaiko said the alliance would prove a turning point in the State.

Asserting that there was a ‘Modi wave’ sweeping the country, he said only the BJP could replace the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre, he said.

Mr. Vaiko said that he met Mr. Modi at a hotel in Chennai where the latter stayed after a public meeting in Vandalur on Saturday night and called for standing by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s decision that no military support would be given to the Sri Lankan Army or other armed forces. As the Prime Minister, Mr. Vajpayee had taken a decision after an all-party meeting that no support would be given to the Sri Lankan Army during the ethnic conflict.

But, after the Congress returned to power, the decision was reversed without any discussion with any party, and support was given to the Sri Lankan Army, Mr. Vaiko alleged.

Mr. Vaiko lauded the Pattali Makkal Katchi for its campaign against government-owned TASMAC liquor outlets in the State and recalled his 1600-km trek across the State to demand total prohibition in the State.

After his speech, Mr. Vaiko did not take questions from reporters.

Farmers meet Modi In Chennai, a group of office-bearers of farmers associations, led by the MDMK MP and All India Farmers Association of India convener, Ganesamoorthy met Mr. Modi.

Memorandum

In a memorandum to him, the farmers associations highlighted the plight of turmeric farmers and sought his intervention to get remunerative prices for the produce. They also said the turmeric should be categorised as commodity than as a commercial/cash crop, and the government should announce a minimum support price of Rs.15,000 per quintal. Later, talking to media, Mr.Ganesamoorthy said they had invited Mr.Modi to participate in farmers’ conference to be held in Erode in March. President, P.K. Deivasikamani and vice-president Kotapati Narasimham Naidu of Turmeric Farmers Association of India were present at the time of meeting.