Parties failed to contain caste conflicts: TMC

In an informal interaction with the media, Moopanar agreed with the contention that the political parties, including the TMC, have to take the initiative to prevent caste and religious conflicts in the state and said TMC will do what it can if thereligious and social leaders came forward to begin an interaction to arrest the increasing trend of religious divide, and misunderstanding that led to violent clashes.

A strategy has to be evolved with a sense of urgency to unite all the communities in social terms, keeping aside the religious differences, he said, adding the situation that led to “no peace of mind” should go, and an atmosphere of amity and fraternity replace it.

Tracing the origin of the “bomb culture” in the state to the days when the LTTE had free movement across the state, he said communal forces have to be fought with determination “wherever they are.” “Precisely this is the reason why we fight the BJP ideologically,” he emphasised.

Religious fundamentalism is not a new phenomenon to Tamil Nadu, he maintained, expressing his general agreement with the contents of the White Paper on bomb blasts presented by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi in the state Assembly last Thursday.

Asked whether the danger to the DMK Government overthe much talked about use or abuse of Article 356 of the Constitution still persisted or receded, Moopanar expressed confidence in the BJP-led Government’s assessment of the situation, saying the Vajpayee Government appeared to have a “balanced view” over the issue. However, as long as the Article finds a place in the Constitution, invoking it cannot be prevented under all circumstances, he explained.

“Delhi is Subramanian Swamy’s town,” Moopanar said, and sought to dismiss the issue, while responding to a question on Swamy’s perceived mission to Delhi to cobble an “alternative, secular and patriotic front.”

Moopanar declined to comment on the party revamp exercise undertaken by Congress president Sonia Gandhi with a terse comment that it is an internal party matter.

There is no development on `the Congress and TMC merger’ issue either, he confirmed. Nothing much need to be read into my visit to Delhi last week, he said.