The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : DMK, allies stand for secularism: Karunanidhi

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Tamil Nadu

DMK, allies stand for secularism: Karunanidhi

S.Ganesan

Chief Minister campaigns for DPA candidates in Tiruchi

— Photo: M. Moorthy

VIGOROUS CAMPAIGN: DMK president and Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi waving to the crowd at the May day celebrations and election meeting in Tiruchi on Friday.

TIRUCHI: The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and its allies are committed to establishing a secular government at the Centre, which will promote communal harmony in the country, Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi said here on Friday.

“We want a secular government at the Centre. The allies in the Democratic Progressive Alliance stand for secularism and communal harmony,” he said addressing a May Day and election rally in support of the alliance candidates of central districts.

A secular government is one that does not favour or extend any special privilege to any particular community. The coming together of the DMK, the Congress, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and the Moovendar Munnetra Kazhagam under a single platform symbolises communal harmony. “We are all Dravidians by race, Tamils by language and Indians by nationality,” he said.“The Opposition parties may criticise and abuse me and my struggles. They abuse me, my family, children and friends. But, even after all these, you still welcome me. The abuses only help me to grow,” he observed.

Referring to erstwhile allies, who had switched sides, Mr.Karunanidhi said the elections had helped him identify the true colours of those people. “The PMK leader S.Ramadoss has alleged that I am enacting a drama. I have enacted dramas in my youth along with Anna only to foster the DMK. But they were enacting a drama before the people for their personal gains.”

The VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalan accused AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa and her allies of using the Sri Lankan Tamils issue for electoral gains.

“Why is she showing a sudden concern for Sri Lankan Tamils. She will not talk about it after elections,” he said. He criticised the PMK, the MDMK and the Left parties for trying to deceive the people by creating a picture that the AIADMK-led front was forged to fight for the cause of Sri Lankan Tamils. By promising to shelve the Sethusamudram project, Ms.Jayalalithaa has sent a signal to the BJP for a post-poll alliance for sake of sharing power at the Centre, he alleged. Explaining the Congress stand on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue, its legislature party Leader D.Sudarssanam said the party always wanted the rights of the Tamils to be protected. MMK leader Sridhar Vandaiyar, IUML leader Khader Mohideen, State Ministers Arcot N.Veerasamy, K.N.Nehru, N.Selvaraj, MPs L.Ganesan and N.Siva spoke.

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