With the continuing reticence of the Sri Lankan regime to address the genuine grievances of Tamils in the island nation and taking into account the international concern over denial of justice for those people, DMK President Kalaignar M.Karunanidhi said that he had relaunched Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO) to make the United Nations to conduct a referendum on Tamil Eelam and had requested Government of India to take all efforts for the formation of Separate Tamil Eelam.
The following is an interview of Kalaignar to the English weekly ‘The Week’ published in its issue of May 20.
Q : Has the ADMK government delivered its pre-poll promises?
Kalaignar: They are implementing even what they haven’t promised in the manifesto! For instance, the new government had abandoned the New Secretariat Complex constructed at a cost of around Rs.1,000 crore and continues to function from the old complex despite the congestion there, by being more adamant. This is one its successes. The announcement saying Rs.100 crore, new Anna Centenary Library will be converted to a hospital, only because it was constructed during the DMK regime, is another success! The reversal of Tamil New year from the month of Thai, which was decided by Tamil scholars and poets even decades before, to Chithirai, is another success! It is mainly because I issued orders for the same during my regime. Only because I fought to get classical status to Tamil Language as dreamt by Tamil scholar Parithimar Kalaignar, hundred years before, the throwing out of rare books and manuscripts from the Paavendar classical Tamil Research Library and destroying the library overnight is a success! DMK dreamt of a state without huts. For this the DMK government had brought a concrete house project and the first phase was already over. At this the dumping of this scheme is a big success! The staying of the Rs.1,815 crore elevated Highway project from Chennai harbor to Maduravoyal, for which our Prime Minister had laid the foundation stone, only because it was launched during the DMK regime, is a Himalayan success. The ADMK government is keen on making success by implementing whatever it had not said in the manifesto- it is keen on doing the opposite- but not worried about implementing the manifesto or whatever it had promised in the manifesto.
Q: Have the people of the state accepted the price rise? What do you have to say on the government’s power management?
A: This question of yours is a self reply to your earlier question! With the government entrusted to earn over Rs.18,000 crore as revenue through TASMAC, there is no urgent need for the government for increasing the prices of milk or bus fare or power tariff. That is why the DMK government did not indulge in increasing the prices of essential commodities. You have asked if the people have accepted this increase. But Jayalalitha government has never thought if the people will accept this or not. The increase in power cut timing and pushing the state into dark, and increasing the power tariff by 37 per cent are self explanatory of this government’s power management.
Q: Do you think the voice of the opposition is stifled in the Assembly?
A: It is not that the members of the Treasury bench and the ministers do not allow the opposition to function. Even the Speaker, who has to run the proceedings of the Assembly, himself gets into hitting at the opposition. For instance a Speaker even if he is from a particular party has to function setting aside his party leanings, his duty being to save the democratic rights of the members in the House. But the Speaker himself says, “ K is upset because of the new schemes brought out by our Chief Minister. By saying ‘K’ I did not mean anyone. I meant, only Kadathalkarargal (hijackers), Kalvargal (thieves).” This is all unwanted. But I am not worried about all these. The world has to know, in what way the Speaker is running the proceedings of the House. I am only worried that the House which has a long history is now led in such a way. Likewise, the leader of the House rises up every now and then and attacks the DMK, particularly me in a very bad manner.
Q: You have been leading the party for more than 43 years now. In the 2011 General elections, DMK was pushed to the third position. Why?
A: It is a common, known fact that after 1989, there has been change in governments every five years. Despite DMK implementing various welfare schemes during the last five year rule. I don’t deny the fact that we lost badly in the 2011 state elections, because of the mistakes of some of the members of the DMK. A campaign was run by others by exaggerating the mistakes. The votes against DMK increased because of these mistakes and it turned in favour of the ADMK. But the same situation which happened for the DMK after full five years has happened to the ADMK in the first one year regime. You yourself might have come to understand this through your experience.
Q: In U.P., Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav had crowned his son Akilesh yadav as the Chief Minister. Is it time for DMK to give way for its young generation?
A: There are lots of differences between DMK and Samajwadi Party. It is a national party and we are a regional party even though we play a role in the Parliament. Mulayam Singh had not quit from active politics. He performs his duty in the Parliament while deputing his son as the Chief Minister of the state. We cannot compare U.P. politics with that of Tamil Nadu politics. In Tamil Nadu, as far as DMK is concerned, the situation is such that, the young generation will function more actively as per the advice of the seniors and by following their past experiences.
Q: Your opinion on MK Stalin’s managerial skills…
A: As the party’s Youth Wing State Secretary, as the Party Treasurer, in the government as Chennai Mayor, as the Local Administration Minister, as the Deputy Chief Minister, he has proved himself as one of the best managers. He works untiringly. He is more concerned about people’s welfare.
Q: How would you rate Alagiri as a Union Minister?
A: As a Union Minister, he always thinks what good he can do for the people through his Ministry and he is skilled in implementing it. He is happier as the party’s South Zone Organising Secretary rather than by functioning as a Minister in the Union cabinet. He is much inclined towards strengthening the party by being more affectionate to the party cadres as the party’s South Zone Secretary.
Q: Reasons for renewing TESO….
A: The ills faced by the Sri Lankan Tamils do not seem to come to an end. The Sri Lankan President failed to keep his words many a times now. The Tamil diaspora is worried about their future. The DMK despite, fighting for the Sri Lankan Tamils since 1956, time has still not come for their welfare. Considering all these again and after taking into account the support from all, US-sponsored resolution at the UN against Sri Lanka, I have relaunched TESO, to make the UN conduct a referendum . I have requested the Government of India to take all efforts
for the formation of Separate Tamil Eelam.
The other questions posed to Kalaignar and answers given by him are as under:
Q: Do you think the DMK dons the role of a perfect opposition party in the state as DMDK has failed to function as a concrete opposition party?
A: Officially DMDK is the opposition party. I cannot say that it is not functioning as a concrete opposition party as you say. As far as DMK is concerned, it does its duty for the welfare of the people even if it is in the opposition.
Q: Are there any obstacles in your giving way for the young generation so as to enable the party function more actively as it was when you were young?
A: Absolutely, there are no obstacles. During my younger days many of the party leaders were young. Now in our party both seniors and younger generation are functioning together by realizing their position in the party. Even when there are no impediments in giving way for the young generation, they are willing to take the advice and assistance of the seniors and work.
Q: You have always been saying that “I want to be one among you, as a cadre in the party.” Has the time come for this?
A: I am one among you – I am still a cadre like you. I am always like that.
Q: Last time the DMK played a very important role in the President of India elections? Does DMK enjoy the same clout now?
A: Not only now, every time, during the Indian President Election DMK has been performing its duty.
Q: Your voice for ‘Separate Tamil Eelam’ is being viewed critically. It is said you adopt a particular stand when in power and a different stand when not in power. Please answer to your critics in this issue.
A: DMK had always voiced its concern for Sri Lankan Tamils whether in power or not,. But there may be differences in the way of approach. For instance in 1989, when Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister, I requested him to save the Sri Lankan Tamils. In 1990 when the IPKF came back home from Sri Lanka, I refused to extend welcome to the IPKF personnel, after they faced allegations of excesses against Tamils in Sri Lanka. When DMK was the ruling party on April 23, 2008 and on November 12, 2008, we passed a resolution in the State Assembly requesting the Union government to save the Sri Lankan Tamils. On October 10, 2008 I called Indian Prime Minister over phone and asked him to take necessary steps to stop the war in Sri Lanka. On October 14, I called for an all party meeting at the secretariat. On October 24, we had orgainsed for mammoth human chain in Chennai. On December 4, 2008, I led an all party delegation to Delhi to meet the Prime Minister and request him in person. We also insisted that Pranab Mukherjee be sent to Sri Lanka. When DMK was in power, we raised over Rs.50 crores as funds from the people of the state and sent food packets, medicines and clothes to the Sri Lankan Tamils on behalf of the government. We launched “Sri Lankan Tamils Welfare rights forum.” On February 21, 2009, we had organized for “youth chain” on behalf of DMK’s youth wing in Chennai and all district headquarters. On April 24, we called for a strike in Tamil Nadu. ON April 28, 2009, I took up fasting as a single man and insisted for the stoppage of the war. All these we did when DMK was in power. Likewise in 1956, when I was 34, I proposed a resolution in favour of Sri Lankan Tamils at the Chidambaram General Council. On August 8, 1977 I organized a mammoth public rally in which five lakh people took part. On August 13, 1981, I had sent a telegram requesting the Prime Minister to save Sri Lankan Tamils. On September 15, 1981, I was arrested by the then ADMK government for Sri Lankan Tamils issue. On July 25, 1983 when Thangadurai, Kuttimani, Jagan and 35 others were massacred by the Sinhalese in the Velikadai prison, I had organized a rally in Chennai. On August 8, 1983, Party’s General Secretary Prof. Anbazhagan and I resigned as MLAs from the assembly in support of the Sri Lankan Tamils, when the DMK was not in power. On May13, 1985, TESO (Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation) was launched. On May 16, 1985 I was arrested for participating in a rally at Kancheepuram in favour of Sri Lankan Tamils. On August 23, 1985 we organized a rally in Chennai. On May 4, 1986, we organized a conference on behalf of TESO at Madurai. On October 15, 1987 we orgainsed a rally in Chennai. On November 6, 1987 we had orgainsed a human chain in Chennai. So whether the DMK in power or not in power we have always stood and fought for Sri Lankan Tamils. We remain the same always.
Q: How does the Tamil diaspora and Tamil scholars support your Separate Tamil Eelam demand?
A: The Tamil diaspora all over the world, over phone and through letters, have welcomed the relaunch of TESO and they have extended support for the Independent Tamil Eelam demand. r
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