'A turning point in State politics'

By S. Annamalai

THENI, JUNE 2. Four years after the split in the TNCC(I), the Mullaperiyar dam issue brought the TMC and the Congress(I) together on a common platform here today.

The joint demonstration in support of the Periyar irrigation farmers, demanding restoration of the full storage level of the dam, was hailed by the two parties as a ``turning- point in Tamil Nadu politics.''

``We have begun well,'' said the TMC president, Mr. G. K. Moopanar, who presided, reflecting the euphoria among the cadres over the coming together of the two parties. Amidst affectionate hugs and warm handshakes by the leaders of the two parties, Mr. Moopanar clarified that the participation of only the two parties in the demonstration did not mean a lack of unity in the Opposition front. The allies, he said, stood united on the issue and would remain so in future also. (The AIADMK has planned a demonstration on June 5 on the issue.)

Mr. Moopanar appealed to the cadres of the two parties to sustain their show of unity over the issue, even if it meant filling up prisons. The TMC leader said any future course of action would be decided in consultation with the leaders of all the Opposition parties. However, he would resort to extreme measures like courting arrest, only if the Government failed to take ``sincere'' steps to accede to the Periyar irrigation farmers' demand.

The TNCC(I) president, Mr. Tindivanam K. Ramamurthy, lambasted the Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, for failing to secure the due right of the farmers and accused him of mortgaging the farmers' rights by giving consent for setting up an expert committee to resolve the Periyar dam wrangle.

With the Congress(I) and the TMC coming closer, the Congress forces capturing power was not far away, he said. The TNCC(I) leader said the joint demonstration was not intended to exclude ``other parties.''

The former Union Minister and TMC leader, Ms. Jayanthi Natarajan, said the coming together of the two parties marked a watershed in the State and national politics.

She wondered how Mr. Karunanidhi had agreed to hold talks with the Kerala Government when that State Assembly had resolved not to allow any increase in the storage level of the dam. Describing the Centre's decision to set up an expert panel to sort out the issue as an eyewash, she said the fact that the original level was not restored despite the completion of the dam strengthening works pointed to a ``sell-out'' by Tamil Nadu.

The former TNCC(I) president, Mr. K. V. Thangabalu, said the united agitation against the ``anti-people'' DMK and NDA Governments would not stop with the Theni demonstration. The two parties would unite all the secular forces and create a new political order in the State under the leadership of Mr. Moopanar. Another former TNCC(I) president, Mr. Kumari Ananthan, said the TMC-Congress(I) unity would pave the way for the revival of Kamaraj rule in Tamil Nadu.

TMC functionaries including the Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly, Mr. S. Balakrishnan, and Mr. Peter Alphonse, MP, also addressed the gathering of partymen and farmers of the area.

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