Talks to end TN riots still inconclusive

CHENNAI, May 16: The separate meeting convened by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Friday for the second consecutive day with the leaders of...

CHENNAI, May 16: The separate meeting convened by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Friday for the second consecutive day with the leaders of Thevar and Dalit communities to find a solution to the continuing caste clashes in Southern districts of the State ended without making any headway.

While a Thevar and a Dalit leader accepted the government’s proposal to shift three out of the eight depots of the Sundaralingam Transport Corporation (STC) from contentious areas of Srivilliputhur, Sivakasi and Rajapalayam (all in Kamarajar district) to the neighbouring VOC district, Devendrar Sangam leader K Krishnasamy, MLA, walked out’ of the meeting after refusing to sign the agreement.

Tamil Nadu Thevar Peravai has announced that the government should immediately start a transport corporation or name a district after Puli Thevan to satisfy the community. Other participants have reserved their opinion pending consultations with other leaders of their respective organisations.

Talking to mediapersons after holding discussions with leaders of the two communities for over two hours at Secretariat, the CM said the talks had not ended. The government’s alternative suggestion to shift three depots of STC to the VOC district was accepted by Ayyannan Ambalam, AIFB (Chittabasu) and John Pandian (All India Devendrakula Vellalar Sangam). Others had reserved their views and the government was waiting for their reaction. “If there is a consensus, the proposal (of shifting the three depots to VOC district) will be implemented. The buses operated from the three depots will bear the same name of Sundaralingam Transport Corporation”.

The Thevar community was not against the naming of transport corporation after Sundaralingam. Since the operation of bus services in three particular depot areas created trouble, the government suggested that the depots could be shifted to the VOC district. The creation of STC was not a new one. A GO in this regard was issued by the previous AIADMK regime way back in 1995 and it was this government which implemented it.

JUDICIAL INQUIRY: The CM said the government had ordered for judicial inquiries headed by retired district judges into the police firing incidents at Thuraiyur (Vaigai district) and Sivakasi (Kamarajar district) recently. The district collectors had been asked to assess the compensation to be paid to owners of private properties damaged in the violent incidents.He would make a tour of the violence affected districts on May 29 and 30 after his Madurai visit on May 28.