DPI cautions DMK

By S. Nadarajan

PONDICHERRY, JULY 30. The central committee of the Dalit Panthers of India which met here today under the chairmanship of its leader, Mr. R. Tirumavalavan, called upon the DMK, head of the NDA in Tamil Nadu, to act with restraint on readmitting the PMK into the NDA-fold.

Addressing presspersons here, Mr. Tirumavalavan said the PMK had betrayed the NDA and shifted its allegiance to the AIADMK, but was now bent on coming back to the NDA. It was pursuing its objective without showing any regard for the DMK and without holding a formal discussion with the DMK, he said.

To a question, he said the DMK president, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, could convene a special meeting of the NDA in Tamil Nadu and seek the views of the allies on the issue.

The DPI central committee did not welcome the ``defection'' because the PMK had virtually ``stabbed the DMK in the back'' in its crisis.

There was close rapport between the DPI and the DMK in Tamil Nadu, and the relationship should not develop any crack, he said.

The DPI was of the view that it should consult Dalits who had been losing their dwelling units because of the PMK's ``culture of torching the huts,'' before taking any decision on the issue. The PMK should show an ``attitudinal change'' towards Dalits as the doors for a ``harmonious understanding'' were always open. ``We are not inimical at any stage to the Vanniar community. But the PMK should drop its anti-Dalit attitude,'' he said.

The DPI's stand would be made known to the DMK president, Mr Karunanidhi, he said.

The committee called for a CBI probe into the recent murder of Modakathan Pandy in Madurai. A petition would be presented personally by a party delegation to the Prime Minister, Mr. A. B. Vajpayee, in this regard.

The committee also urged the Tamil Nadu Government to withdraw the cases against DPI volunteers under various sections.

PMK exit no cause for worry: Cong.

Our Chennai Correspondent reports:

The TNCC president, Mr. E.V.K.S. Elangovan, today said the Congress was not concerned over the exit of the PMK from the AIADMK-led front.

``We did not welcome the PMK's entry into the AIADMK- led front. And, we do not oppose its exit now'', Mr. Elangovan told the media here.

All former Congress men including the TMC president, Mr. G.K. Moopanar, and the TRC president, Mr. Vazhapadi K. Ramamurthy, were welcome to join the Congress, he said.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Viswanath planning another English film
Next     : Stalin complaint maintainable: SHRC