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Tamil Nadu: Left, MDMK to support ADMK in RS polls

May 27, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

The Opposition Left parties and the MDMK have decided to extend support to the AIADMK for the coming Raja Sabha election. The term of six members from the state, including four from the AIADMK, former Union Minister Anbumani Ramadoss and Congress leader E M Sudarsana Natchiappan, is coming to an end next month.

It was rumoured that MDMK chief Vaiko and CPI state secretary D Pandian, both of whom had lost in the Lok Sabha election, were in the running for the one seat the AIADMK was ready to share. However, it was announced on Wednesday after a meeting of the allies at Opposition Leader J Jayalalithaa’s Poes Garden residence that the smaller parties would support AIADMK candidates.

With only 55 MLAs, AIADMK needs the support of the allies — CPM, CPI and MDMK — to get its second nominee elected. The party has convened its executive committee meeting on Thursday when the two candidates for RS are expected to be announced.

On the other side of the political divide, the Congress can send a representative to the RS and is said to be in talks with the DMK for one more, while former ally PMK has sought its help in re-electing Anbumani. It is not clear if the DMK leadership has taken a favourable decision in this regard.

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Tamil Nadu says had no role to play in Prabhakaran’s mother deportation

April 20, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Chennai, Apr 19 (ANI): The Tamil Nadu Government on Monday said it had no role to play in the deportation slain Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE) leader V Prabhakaran’s mother, Parvathi, on her arrival in India.

On Friday, Indian immigration officials deported Parvathi, immediately after she arrived from Malaysia.

Parvathi, who is suffering from paralysis, arrived here with an aide from the Malaysia to secure medical attention at a city hospital.

Responding to a Special Call Attention motion in the State Assembly, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi said his government would write to the Centre on allowing her medical treatment in Chennai, if she requested.

Karunanidhi claimed that he himself was not informed about Parvathi’s visit and added that neither did the State Government have any information.

“There was no communication to the State Government from her or those who had arranged her Indian trip from Malaysia. All the communication was between her and the Centre,” Karunanidhi said.

“If she insists on coming to Tamil Nadu for treatment, we are ready to consider her case and write accordingly to the Centre,” he added.

Parvathi is currently undergoing treatment in Malaysia.

Karunanidhi informed the House, in 2003, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagam (AIADMK) Government led by Jayalalithaa had written to the Centre demanding blacklisting of Parvathi and her husband, Veraswami demanded banning their re-entry into the country.

Prabakaran’s parents came to India in 1983.

Both Parvathi and Veraswami had left Tamil Nadu’s Tiruchrappli for Sri Lanka in the wake of ceasefire in the island nation in 2003.

Members demanded that Parvathi be allowed medical treatment in the country on humanitarian ground.

Speaking on the motion, Congress leader D. Sudarsanam argued there was nothing wrong in the deportation since Parvathi was brought to Chennai with ulterior political motives.

“Vaiko and Nedumaran had known about her arrival while the Chief Minister of the State had no idea about. It was part of a cheap political campaign,” he said.

AIADMK members were not present during the discussion. (ANI)

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Tamil Nadu says had no role to play in Prabhakaran’s mother deportation

April 19, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

On Friday, Indian immigration officials deported Parvathi, immediately after she arrived from Malaysia.

Parvathi, who is suffering from paralysis, arrived here with an aide from the Malaysia to secure medical attention at a city hospital.

Karunanidhi claimed that he himself was not informed about Parvathi’s visit and added that neither did the State Government have any information.

“There was no communication to the State Government from her or those who had arranged her Indian trip from Malaysia. All the communication was between her and the Centre,” Karunanidhi said.

“If she insists on coming to Tamil Nadu for treatment, we are ready to consider her case and write accordingly to the Centre,” he added.

Parvathi is currently undergoing treatment in Malaysia.

Prabakaran’s parents came to India in 1983.

Both Parvathi and Veraswami had left Tamil Nadu’s Tiruchrappli for Sri Lanka in the wake of ceasefire in the island nation in 2003.

Members demanded that Parvathi be allowed medical treatment in the country on humanitarian ground.

Speaking on the motion, Congress leader D. Sudarsanam argued there was nothing wrong in the deportation since Parvathi was brought to Chennai with ulterior political motives.

“Vaiko and Nedumaran had known about her arrival while the Chief Minister of the State had no idea about. It was part of a cheap political campaign,” he said.

AIADMK members were not present during the discussion. (ANI)

Fifth phase witnesses approximately 62 percent polling for Lok Sabha

May 13, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 13 (ANI): The fifth and final phase of general elections 2009 witnessed an overall 62 percent polling for 86 Lok Sabha constituencies across nine states and two union territories.

The polling for general elections to Lok Sabha came to an end on Wednesday. The polling was by and large peaceful except for stray incidents of violence in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

The last phase saw violence with one death being reported from West Bengal and one from Tamil Nadu.

The counting for all the Lok Sabha seats will be held on May 16.

In Jammu and Kashmir moderate to heavy polling has been reported in the fifth and final phase of elections in the Baramulla and Ladkah Parliamentary constituencies. Latest reports say about forty percent voters had caste their votes in the Baramulla constituency while as the percentage in the Ladakh seat touched around 60 percent.

In Tamil Nadu, 55 per cent voting was recorded. In Puducherry, an estimated 66 per cent voters exercised their franchise to elect the Union Territory’s lone representative in the Lok Sabha.

In Uttar Pradesh, over 50 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the polling for 14 seats of the Western and Rohilakhand region.

In Uttarakhand, more than 35 per cent voting has been recorded in five constituencies. n Punjab, an estimated 62 per cent polling was reported in the nine Lok Sabha seats.

In Himachal Pradesh, 50 to 55 per cent polling was reported in all the four constituencies.

Prominent candidates in the fray include Home Minister P Chidambaram, DMK’s T R Baalu, Dayanidhi Maran and M K Azhagiri, Congress’ Md Azharuddin, BJP’s Maneka and Varun Gandhi and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, MDMK’s Vaiko and SP’s Jayaprada.

Polling has been completed to 457 Lok Sabha seats since the exercise began on April 16.

The Lok Sabha has 545 members, but elections are held to 543 seats as two members are nominated from the Anglo-Indian community. (ANI)

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Fifth phase of polling to elect 86 Members of Parliament

May 13, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 13 (ANI): Elections for the fifth and final phase of parliamentary elections for the 86 constituencies in seven States and two Union Territories began on Wednesday morning.

The seven states comprising Punjab (nine constituencies), Jammu and Kashmir (2), Uttar Pradesh (14), West Bengal (11), Himachal Pradesh (four constituencies), Tamil Nadu (39), Uttarakhand (5) and two Union Territories including Chandigarh (1) and Pudducherry (1) would complete voting in all the constituencies in this fifth and final phase.

In this last leg, there are 10.78 crore eligible voters who will choose their political representatives out of 1,432 candidates including 93 women.

The Chennai South constituency has the highest number of contestants (43) and in the case of women candidates it is Faridkot in Punjab (5).

In Uttar Pradesh, Muslim vote is set to play a crucial role in the fifth and final round of polling.

Unlike the previous four phases, no area or polling station will come under the naxal-infested belt this time.

Staggered polling, which began on April 16, has seen elections completed to 457 Lok Sabha seats and also stray violence in some parts of the country.

The final phase would see election of 86 MPs and among the contenders are Congress’ P. Chidambaram and Md. Azharuddin, BJP’s Maneka Gandhi and Varun Gandhi and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, DMK’s T.R. Baalu, A. Raja, Dayanidhi Maran and M.K. Azhagiri, MDMK’s Vaiko, TC chief Mamata Banerjee and Samajwadi Party’s actor-turned politician Jayaprada.

Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar and Sajjad Gani Lone of People’s Conference are the other prominent names in this final phase of elections which would see election of 86 MPs.

Polling has already completed for 457 Lok Sabha seats since the exercise commenced began on April 16 amid stray violence that left over 20 dead.

Counting of votes and results will be out on May 16.

Any party or a coalition requires 272 seats in the Lok Sabha to stake claim to form a government at the Centre.

The Lok Sabha has 545 members. But elections are held to 543 seats, as two members are nominated from the Anglo- Indian community. (ANI)

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Stage set for fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections

May 12, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 12 (ANI): The stage is set for the fifth and last phase of Lok Sabha elections in 86 constituencies in seven States and two Union Territories on Wednesday.

In this phase, polling will take place in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab; and two Union Territories – Chandigarh, Puducherry.

Elections will be held to four seats in Himachal Pradesh, two in Jammu and Kashmir, nine in Punjab, 39 in Tamil Nadu, 14 in Uttar Pradesh, 11 in West Bengal, five in Uttarakhand, the lone one seat each in Chandigarh and Puducherry.

Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir are the only states to have undergone polls in all the five phases.

The prominent contestants in the fray are Congress’s P. Chidambaram and Mohd. Azharuddin, BJP’s Maneka Gandhi, Varun Gandhi, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Vinod Khanna, DMK’s M K Azhagiri, Dayanidhi Maran, T R Baalu and A Raja, MDMK’s Vaiko, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and Samajwadi Party’s Jayaprada.

The other important contestants in the fray are Mani Shankar Aiyar, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Sajjad Gani Lone, and Tamil actor M Karthik.

So far, elections have been completed to 457 seats since the exercise began on April 16.

On May 7, the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections held for 85 constituencies spread across seven States had witnessed 57 per cent voting of the total 9.46 crore eligible votes.

The first, second and third phases of polling were held on April 16, 23 and 30 respectively.

The counting of votes will take place on May 16. The 543-member House will be constituted before June 2. (ANI)

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Campaigning for fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls comes to end

May 11, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 11 (ANI): Campaigning in 86 constituencies in six States and two Union Territories that are scheduled to undergo polls in the fifth phase of general elections on Wednesday (May 13) concluded on Monday evening.

The fifth and last phase of the Lok Sabh elections will witness polling taking place in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh States and Chandigarh and Puducherry, the two Union Territories.

The other important contestants in the fray are Mani Shankar Aiyar, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Sajjad Gani Lone, and Tamil actor M Karthik.

Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir are the only states to have undergone polls in all the five phases.

So far, elections have been completed to 457 seats since the exercise began on April 16.

On May 7, the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections held for 85 constituencies spread across seven States had witnessed 57 per cent voting of the total 9.46 crore eligible votes.

The first, second and third phases of polling were held on April 16, 23 and 30 respectively.

The counting of votes will take place on May 16. The 543-member House will be constituted before June 2. (ANI)

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Campaigning for fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls comes to end

May 11, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

The other important contestants in the fray are Mani Shankar Aiyar, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Sajjad Gani Lone, and Tamil actor M Karthik.

Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir are the only states to have undergone polls in all the five phases.

So far, elections have been completed to 457 seats since the exercise began on April 16.

On May 7, the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections held for 85 constituencies spread across seven States had witnessed 57 per cent voting of the total 9.46 crore eligible votes.

The first, second and third phases of polling were held on April 16, 23 and 30 respectively.

The counting of votes will take place on May 16. The 543-member House will be constituted before June 2. (ANI)

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MDMK differs with AIADMK on Sethusamudram project

April 22, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Chennai, Apr 19 (PTI) Differing with its ally AIADMK on the Sethusamudram project, the MDMK today said it should be implemented without hurting the religious sentiments and affecting the livelihood of fishermen. “If voted to power, MDMK will make efforts to realign the project in such a way that bigger ships can use it.

The project should be implemented without hurting the religious sentiments and allay fears of loss of livelihood for fishermen,” the party said in its manifesto released here. The MDMK stand is in contradiction to the position of AIADMK, which has declared in its manifesto it would scrap the project, as it would cause ‘irretrievable damage’ to the environment and leave lakhs of people unemployed.

It had also cited religious sentiments associated with ‘Ram Sethu.’ PMK and the Left parties, constituents of the AIADMK-led front, are also vocal supporters of the project.

Asked about AIADMK’s different stand on the issue, Vaiko, who released the manifesto, said differences do persist among allies, but they had “agreed to disagree”. On the Sri Lankan Tamils issue, the pro-LTTE MDMK said only a separate Tamil Ealam would solve the ethnic problem in the island nation.

Claiming that the banned LTTE was fighting for the Tamils in Sri Lanka, the party called for revoking the ban. It also said it would strive to retrieve Katchatheevu, an islet ceded to Sri Lanka by India in 1974, saying the move had resulted in loss of livelihood for local fishermen as they were not allowed to fish there.

PTI.

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India will face dire consequences: Vaiko

April 21, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Chennai, Apr 21 (ANI): Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) founder V. Gopalswamy on Tuesday said India would face dire consequences if it did not come forward to stop the on-going Sri Lankan crisis.

“The Tamils across the world are gravely concerned about the war in the island nation and it is high time the Centre should come forward and stop the war. Otherwise, the country will face dire consequences in the future,” he said in a statement here.

Vaiko also urged to United Nations to take immediate steps to stop the Sri Lankan crisis. (ANI)

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Vaiko’s ‘bloodbath’ remark exposes fissures in Third Front

April 11, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Chennai, April 10 (IANS) MDMK leader Vaiko’s warning of a ‘bloodbath’ in Tamil Nadu over the Sri Lankan Tamil tangle has brought out fissures in the AIADMK-led Third Front with the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) demanding an explanation from him.

N. Varadarajan, state secretary of the CPI-M, said Friday in a statement: ‘Vaiko’s reported remarks are not acceptable to us. He should clarify his statement.’

Meanwhile, Vaiko has termed the state government’s move to charge him with sedition for his remarks in support of the Tamil Tigers’ chief as ‘politically motivated’.

‘My statement indicating a bloodbath in Tamil Nadu if Prabhakaran (leader of the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) is harmed does not mean sedition. I need no certificate from the M. Karunanidhi government for patriotism and these charges are politically motivated,’ Vaiko told reporters.

Surrounded by supporters shouting slogans against the central, state, and the Sri Lankan governments for the killing of ‘innocent Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka’, Vaiko expressed scorn over the threat of arrest.

‘Threats of arrests by the cowardly Karunanidhi, who is using the alibi of Tamil sentiments to continue in power and aiding the collaboration of the Indian government with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse’s murderous regime, do not bother me,’ Vaiko added.

Meanwhile, PMK founder leader S. Ramadoss, political ally of the CPI-M and MDMK pooh-poohed Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi for requesting Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s intervention to solve the Sri Lankan crisis.

‘I fail to understand why Karunanidhi is begging Sonia Gandhi instead of either controlling the United Progressive Alliance’s moves or switching alliances (to pull down the government),’ Ramadoss said in a press statement issued Friday evening.

The PMK, a constituent of the UPA government till recently, had switched sides to the Third Front led in Tamil Nadu by AIADMK boss J. Jayalalitha.

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Subramanian Swamy wants central forces deployed in Tamil Nadu

April 11, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Chennai, April 10 (IANS) Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy Friday warned of serious trouble from pro-LTTE elements in Tamil Nadu and demanded that central paramilitary forces be deployed to take preventive measures.

‘The central government must take pre-emptive action by posting Central Reserve Police Force and Border Security Force personnel in Tamil Nadu and carry out pre-emptive arrests of fissiparous elements immediately,’ Swamy said in a statement.

The Janata Party president was reacting to Vaiko’s warning of a ‘bloodbath in Tamil Nadu’ if any harm came to Veluppillai Prabhakaran, the leader of the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, during the ongoing Sri Lankan military action against the rebels.

Swamy demanded that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi prepare a contingency plan to tackle a hypothetical ‘post-Prabhakaran situation’.

Meanwhile, lawyer R. Shiva Sankaran, who was arrested earlier in the day for pelting the Janata Party president with eggs in the Madras High Court in February over his alleged pro-Colombo stance, was let off on bail.

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Sedition charges politically motivated: Vaiko

April 11, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Chennai, April 10 (IANS) MDMK leader Vaiko Friday termed the Tamil Nadu government’s move to charge him with sedition for his remarks in support of the Tamil Tigers’ chief as ‘politically motivated’.

‘While my statement indicating a bloodbath in Tamil Nadu if (banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam leader) Prabhakaran is harmed does not mean sedition. I need no certificate from the M. Karunanidhi government for patriotism and these charges are politically motivated,’ Vaiko told reporters.

Surrounded by supporters decrying the state, central and Sri Lankan governments for allegedly killing ‘innocent Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka’, Vaiko expressed scorn over the threat of arrest.

‘Threats of arrests by the cowardly (Tamil Nadu Chief Minister) Karunanidhi using the alibi of Tamil sentiments to continue in power and aiding the collaboration of the Indian government with Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse’s murderous regime, do not bother me,’ Vaiko added.

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LTTE, Prabhakaran figure in election rhetoric in India’s Tamil Nadu

April 10, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi – As India gears up for general elections, politicians in India’s southern Tamil Nadu state are hyping their rhetoric regarding Sri Lanka’s ethnic Tamils, news reports said Friday. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Karunanidhi, who has never supported the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the past, appealed to the Sri Lankan government to treat LTTE leader Prabhakaran with dignity even if he was defeated, the NDTV television channel reported.

Karunanidhi’s comments during a political rally came a day after rival politician Vaiko warned of a bloodbath in Tamil Nadu if Prabhakaran was harmed.

The Congress Party, which has an alliance with Karunanidhi’s DMK, was the only party treading a different path.

Party spokeswoman Jayanthi Natarajan said: “The LTTE is a banned organization in India and in at least 50 other countries. We cannot forget that one of our most beloved leaders Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by the LTTE.”

The Sri Lankan Tamil issue is highly charged in India’s Tamil Nadu state, which has a population of over 62 million Tamils.

Various groups, including some regional political parties, have demanded that the Indian government puts pressure on Sri Lanka to protect Tamil civilians.

In February groups of lawyers clashed with the police as they protested India’s “lack of action” in taking up the plight of Tamil civilians caught up in the civil war between the Sri Lankan government and LTTE rebels.

Tamil politicians have been playing up the emotive issue as they seek the support of voters.

Elections in the state are scheduled to be held on May 13 in the last phase of India’s staggered elections.

“If Prabhakarn is harmed, I warn you there will be a bloodbath in Tamil Nadu,” Vaiko, who leads the MDMK party, said at an election rally Wednesday. “If India assists the genocide happening in Sri Lanka the people will lose confidence in the Indian system and Indian unity … don’t jeopardize the unity and integrity of India.”

Karunanidhi’s government has registered a case against Vaiko under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Law. But Karunanidhi, too, said Thursday the Sri Lankan government should take a conciliatory approach towards Prabhakaran.

Addressing Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, Karunanidhi said: “Irrespective of the consequences of the war and what happens to Prabhakaran, treat him and Eelam Tamils honourably and equally by sharing power. Otherwise, history will not forgive you.”

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FIR against Vaiko for pro-LTTE speech

April 10, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Chennai, April 9 (IANS) MDMK leader Vaiko, a known Tamil Tiger sympathiser, faces police action over his alleged inflammatory speech supporting the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

An FIR was filed Thursday against Vaiko, a day after he warned of a bloodbath in Tamil Nadu if LTTE chief Prabhakaran was harmed.

‘Charges have been made against Vaiko for spreading disaffection among people and speaking against the banned LTTE,’ an official, at North Beach police station where the FIR was registered, told IANS.

Vaiko Wednesday said: ‘Prabhakaran lives in the hearts of Tamils. Tamils all over the world do not want even a small harm happening to him. If anything happens to him there will be a bloodbath in Tamil Nadu,’ he said.

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Vaiko warns of ‘serious consequence’ to Sri Lankan offensive against LTTE

April 10, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Chennai, Apr 10 (ANI): Tamil leader V. Gopalswamy, popularly known as Vaiko, warned of serious consequences as Sri Lanka military sounded last warning to Tamil Tiger rebels.

“When the government itself is giving weapons to kill our people then I said if they use the weapons to kill the Tamil people, to kill the Liberation movement, the LTTE, the repercussions will be disastrous,” said Vaiko.

Vaiko said the MDMK has adopted a resolution saying that a separate state for Sri Lanka’s minority Tamils was the only solution to the ethnic conflict.

“Today, we have again adopted a resolution reiterating our stand again emphasising the fact that the separate Tamil Eelam is the only solution. We have decided to raise our voice to see Tamil Eelam is created in the island,” Vaiko said.

LTTE supporters in India say the government gives weapons to Sri Lanka, butew Delhi says it only provides non-lethal equipment.

Sri Lanka’s military on Wednesday broadcast a final surrender offer to Tamil Tiger rebels surrounded in a tiny strip of coast, urging them drop their guns and free tens of thousands of civilians or be destroyed.

After a punishing three-day battle in which the military said it killed more than 500 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels, the Sri Lankan army sealed the remnants of the separatist group off in a no-fire zone where they are mixed among civilians. (ANI)

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FIR against Vaiko for making pro-LTTE speech

April 10, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Chennai, Apr. 10 (ANI): An FIR has been lodged against MDMK leader Vaiko here for allegedly delivering inflammatory speeches in support of the LTTE.

This comes a day after he warned of a bloodbath in Tamil Nadu if LTTE chief Prabhakaran is harmed.

The Chennai Police has framed Vaiko under sedition and under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

Sedition is officially defined as an attempt to bring hatred or contempt, or exciting or attempting to excite, disaffection towards the Government.

Under section 124A of IPC, sedition is a non-bailable offence, which means the accused cannot be granted bail by the arresting authority.

Conviction under the UAPA can lead to imprisonment for five years or even a life sentence.

The FIR also accuses him of making a comment that could create fear or incite violence. (ANI)

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MDMK alleges Tamils subjected to genocide in Sri Lanka

April 9, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Coimbatore/Chennai, Apr 9 (ANI): Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) activists staged protest and rallies against alleged killing of innocent Tamilians by the Sri Lanka army.

In Coimbatore, holding placards and raising slogans, they denounced the action by the Sri Lankan Government on the Tamilian civilians and demanded immediate cease fire.

Further, they demanded the immediate withdrawal of warships from the neighbourhood of Mullaitheevu, which is allegedly being used in chemical warfare unlashed on innocent Tamilians living in the island nation.

MDMK leaders and other activists blamed the Congress party-led United Progressive Alliance Government in New Delhi for allegedly extending military aid to the Sri Lankan defence forces in the mass killing of Tamilians in Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, addressing another mass protest demonstration in Chennai, MDMK chief Vaiko also blamed the Central Government for what he alleged abetting the genocide in Sri Lanka.

“The Indian Government is solely responsible, which has supplied weapons, radars and given all logistic support with financial support enabling the Sri Lankan Government to purchase weapons from other countries. Therefore, the Indian Government, the UPA Government headed by the Congress Party, is solely responsible for the genocide. The Indian Government has committed a terrible, unpardonable, unforgivable, betrayal against the Tamils,” said Vaiko.

A staunch supporter of LTTE, Vaiko warned of a bloodbath in the state if something happens to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) chief V Prabhakaran in Sri Lanka.

He also blamed the Indian Government for not initiating effective ceasefire.

Earlier, hundreds of Tamil protestors had also demonstrated outside Britain’s Parliament on Tuesday calling for London’s help in securing a ceasefire between Sri Lankan forces and Tamil Tiger separatists

The British Tamils Forum said the protest had been organised by Tamil students who fear thousands of civilians could be killed if the Sri Lankan military continues its offensive against the LTTE in a no-fire zone in a northeastern coastal area. (ANI)

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AIADMK, CPM reach seat sharing agreement

April 6, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Chennai, Apr 6 (ANI): The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) on Monday arrived at a seat sharing agreement, according to which the latter would contest the Madurai, Kaniyakumari and Coimbatore seats in the upcoming elections.

CPM state secretary N Varadarajan held talks with the AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa at her Pose Garden residence this afternoon and signed the pact.

The seat sharing talks between the two parties had remained inconclusive till now as the CPM was demanding either Coimbatore or adjoining Tirupur besides Madurai and Kaniyakumari won by it in 2004.

According to sources, Jayalalithaa was against handing over these seats as she considered them her party’s strongholds.

The CPM also showed interest in fielding its candidates in North Chennai and Nagapattinam, but these were allocated to the CPI.

On March 31, CPM General Secretary Prakash Karat visited Chennai to hold negotiations with Jayalalithaa.

However, both sides stuck to their respective stands.

The Vaiko-led Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) is yet to reach a poll understanding with the AIADMK.

According to sources, a deal with the MDMK, which has been demanding five seats, is likely to be made either today or tomorrow. (ANI)

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Glitches in negotiations remain, but Jaya to release candidates’ list soon

April 6, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

CHENNAI: Belying expectations that the standoff over seat-sharing with the CPM and the MDMK in the AIADMK camp would be resolved amicably, the
deadlock continued to persist on Saturday even as AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa announced that the list of her party candidates would be released very soon.

The AIADMK supremo, who interacted with party’s ticket aspirants for the Lok Sabha seats at her party headquarters, reportedly asked them to strive for the victory of the party and its allies irrespective of whether they got the ticket or not. The candidates’ list would be finalised in a day or two, she told the party men. Later, she told reporters that the candidates list would be released “very soon.”

Though Jayalalithaa was quick to form an electoral alliance by roping in the Left parties and the PMK, along with the existing ally MDMK, and finalise a seat-sharing agreement with the CPI and the PMK, the talks with the CPM and the MDMK hit a roadblock with both the sides remaining firm on their demands.

There were wide expectations that the AIADMK chief would hold talks with MDMK leader Vaiko and CPM state secretary N Varadarajan on Saturday and resolve the issue amicably. Though Jayalalithaa had reportedly invited CPM leaders for talks, the meeting failed to happen, keeping the allies guessing.

Political circles were agog with speculation that a resolution adopted by the CPM state council in Madurai on Friday, authorising the state unit to decide on the next course of action if the seat-sharing agreement with the AIADMK did not materialise, would not have gone down well with the AIADMK leader.

While the CPM, which has been offered three seats, was very firm on getting Tirupur, along with Madurai and Kanyakumari seats, the MDMK wanted at least five seats against the three reportedly offered to it.

Despite being the last entrant into the alliance, the PMK was the first to clinch a pact with AIADMK and walk away with 7 seats including Puducherry. The CPI has been allocated north Chennai, Nagapattinam and Tenkasi (res) seats.

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