BJP,Mallika woo Tamil voters in their language

The BJP pamphlet “for the kind attention of Tamil voters” reminds among other things that it was “only the BJP that has taken up the cause of Sri Lankan Tamils at the national level”.

It adds,“Let us strive hard to make Lal Krishna Advani PM so that our umbilical cord relatives can live peacefully.” It says the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre was so weak that it could not contain terrorism.

Quoting from its manifesto,the party has also said that the Ramsetu would be declared a heritage monument and that the Setusamudram project site would be changed.

The BJP further urges Tamil voters to realise the dreams of Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Purshottam Rupala,state party president,by voting for the BJP. For good measure,it promises to hang Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru,re-introduce POTA and bring a uniform civil code.

“We speak different languages and follow different religions,but we are proud as Indians,” the pamphlet reminds Tamil voters,telling indirectly why a Tamil pamphlet has been distributed.

Dattaji Chirandas,senior BJP leader,who was looking after the pamphlet work,said there were pockets of Tamil speaking population in areas like Chandkheda,Sabarmati,Gandhinagar city and in parts of Khokhra and Maninagar. “We distributed these pamphlets during a palkhi yatra of Tamils a couple of days ago. The remaining would be distributed shortly,” he said.

Election literature department coordinator Asit Vora said he was not aware of the population statistics of the Tamil speaking people in the constituency. Also,he did know of any such pamphlets being printed.

Not to be left behind,Mallika has also come up with an appeal in Tamil to the voters. “I am not slave of any party and I do not require the help of any party to solve the common man’s problems. I will always be there to raise your voice in the Parliament and resolve your problems,” is what she has to tell her Tamil voters.

The twin-cities of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar have over 2.5 lakh Tamil speaking population. They have good presence in important fields like the state bureaucracy and police force. Tamils also run a number of educational institutions.

They are also working as labourers in Khokhra,Maninagar,Bapunagar,Jamalpur,Meghaninagar,Asarwa,Naroda,Sabarmati,and Chandkheda areas besides Gandhinagar and Kalol.

Most of them belong to Cuddalore and Villupuram districts of Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Pondicherry.

(With inputs from R Manickavasagam)