Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader, V. Prabhakaran in a recent interview to Tamil magazine Nakkeeran, has praised Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi for his efforts to send relief to Tamils in Sri Lanka. Prabhakaran has said, “Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Kalaignar is a Tamil nationalist. He has not only voiced his concern against the Sinhala state terrorism in Tamil Eelam, but has also showed it in action.” Prabhakaran has also condemned Tamil Nadu opposition leader of All India Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (ADMK), J. Jayalalithaa, for distancing herself from the Sri Lankan Tamil issue.
This recent interview of Prabhakaran takes the steam out of protests led by parties like the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), whose leader V. Gopalaswamy alias Vaiko, is now in jail for making speeches in support of the LTTE, and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK).
Prabhakaran, in his interview, has chosen to praise Karunanidhi, whom pro-LTTE groups, like the MDMK, VCK and the Tamil National Movement, have condemned for allegedly paying lip-service to the Eelam cause while continuing to be a part of the United Progressive Alliance at the Centre. Karunanidhi has also withdrawn his threat to pull out of the Union Government after External Affairs Minster Pranab Mukherjee recently called on him, in Chennai.
When asked how the MDMK felt on losing the glory of supporting Eelam, to the DMK, party spokesperson Mr. Nanmaran said, “We are not a narrow-minded party. Karunanidhi is talking about the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils only now, whereas we have been constantly supporting the (Eelam) cause for a long time. It is with generosity, that Prabhakaran has given this statement praising Karunanidhi for his relief efforts.”
The current wave of protests, in Tamil Nadu, against the alleged atrocities on Sri Lankan Tamils was started off on October 2, with the Communist Party of India (CPI) holding a public fast. The DMK, later, took up the issue with the Centre, and convened an all-party meeting that called for the resignation of Tamil MPs from parliament. The Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) leader Vijaykanth has accused the DMK of hijacking the issue from the CPI.
Com. Mahendran, Assistant Secretary of the CPI, Tamil Nadu, speaking to this reporter, said that after the October 2 fast, the whole state recognizes that the CPI is completely committed to the well-being of Sri Lankan Tamils. “Our All India Party Congress, in Hyderabad, had decided that there has to only be a political solution for the self-determination of Sri Lankan Tamils within a united Sri Lanka. Instead of an Indian federal setup, we support the Quebec model for Lanka.”
On being asked about whether the CPI’s decisions were coordinated with the Communist Party of Sri Lanka, which is a part of the ruling coalition there, Com. Mahendran said that they too want an end to atrocities on Tamils.” Being the Tamil Nadu branch of the CPI, we have to consider the sentiments of the Tamil people first. Every communist party acts according to how it assesses the national condition.” This year’s May Day rallies in Sri Lanka echoed a strong anti-war sentiment.
The bulk of the LTTE’s support in India comes Dalit youth, who, rightly or wrongly, look upon the LTTE as an ideal movement for Dalit emancipation. Dalit parties like the VCK are the militant in their support for Eelam. Bala, a young Bahujan Samaj Party worker in Nungambakkam, who was formerly a supporter of the VCK, spoke to this reporter. “Our CM has fulfilled his responsibility by organizing aid for Sri Lankan Tamils. The MDMK and VCK have taken money from the LTTE, hence they are doing this propaganda.”
The credibility of Tamil nationalist groups is in doubt as political exigencies have caused them to swing between the ADMK and DMK, threatening to erode their core base of Tamil nationalists and Dalits.
No comments:
Post a Comment