MDMK leader Vaiko has made it clear that neither POTA nor his alliance with the Congress can come in the way when it comes to voicing his concerns about Lankan Tamils. In the MDMK manifesto released by Vaiko here today, the party declared unequivocally that its moral support to the cause of the Lankan Tamils would continue, though it did not specifically mention the LTTE in that context. However, the manifesto went on to note that the international community had already accepted the LTTE as representatives of Sri Lankan Tamils and recognised that a political solution through negotiations was vital for lasting peace. It also urged the Centre to change the way it approached the issue of Sri Lankan Tamils and ‘‘contribute’’ to the ongoing peace process in the island nation. At a time when a few foreign countries and superpowers were attempting to get a foothold in the island nation for selfish gains, India should safeguard its own interests by becoming part of the peace process, the party argued. Charging the Sri Lankan government with being a hurdle in the implementation of the Sethu Samudram project, the manifesto said the MDMK would make all-out efforts to get work on the project started fast. The party also suggested that dual citizenship be granted to Tamils living in South Asian and South-East Asian nations on the lines of what the Centre was contemplating for Indians in the US, the manifesto added. The manifesto also talks about the scrapping of Article 356, declaration of Tamil as a classical language, proportional representation for a true federal set-up, decentralisation and state autonomy, equal representation to the states in the council and the formation of a South Indian Federation for a cordial relationship among interdependent southern states. Talking to mediapersons on the occasion, Vaiko said there was a threat to the Dravidian movement and in order to devote his time to the cause, he has decided not to contest for the Lok Sabha polls. He further said the ‘‘communal’’ BJP was making an effort to spread its tentacles in the state through the AIADMK which had already banned conversions, a measure militating against the basic tenets of Dravidianism. Vaiko also said any move to implement the Hinduvta agenda, like the building of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, would not only devastate India but also endanger the lives of Indians in Muslim nations.
