CHENNAI: General secretary of the Dalit Panthers of India (DPI) Thol.Thirumavalavan on Tuesday appealed to the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) to quit the Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) and join the electoral alliance led by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam to maintain unity and social harmony among Tamils.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Thirumavalavan said he would also welcome the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) if it decided to fight the coming Assembly elections with the AIADMK.

For the DPI, consolidating Tamil unity and maintaining harmony among oppressed communities were more important than electoral gain, he said. He said it was sad that DPI and PMK activists were not in a position to jointly participate in campaigning. The AIADMK also would extend a helping hand to the Tamil Protection Movement built by the DPI, the PMK and others.

Expressing DPI's wish

However, Mr. Thirumavalavan made it clear that he was not appealing to the PMK on behalf of the AIADMK. He was only expressing the DPI's wish.

Asked if the DPI would try to persuade the AIADMK leadership to rope in the PMK in the electoral front, he said there was no need to do so, as the PMK could strive for that through various "other channels."

He thanked PMK founder S. Ramadoss for taking steps with utmost sincerity and genuine concern for the last one year to include the DPI in the DPA. The DPI's appeal for forming an alternative front under the PMK's leadership also did not yield any result, he said.

Mr. Thirumavalavan said he hoped that a situation in which the PMK and the DPI crossed swords would not arise in the Assembly poll. Even if they had to contest the same seats, the DPI would take care not to disturb social harmony.

Justifying the DPI's tie-up with the AIADMK, he said, "In the absence of father's mercy, mother's affection supports."

Concern expressed

To a query, Mr. Thirumavalavan said there was no contradiction between the stand taken by the DPI and that of the AIADMK on the Tamil Eelam issue. Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, who declined to receive Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakshe, had also expressed concern at the exodus of Lankan refugees.

Mr. Thirumavalavan said the DPI would not demand a common minimum programme for the alliance. Though the party had always been in favour of favoured a coalition Government, for the State, it would not insist on it now. Neither his party nor the AIADMK would compromise on their policies and ideologies, he said.

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