Tamil Diaspora - Tamil Nadu

"Integrating Tamil Nadu and a portion of Sri Lanka and creating a greater Tamil nation is the objective of M. Karunanidhi (DMK chief), Vaiko (MDMK chief), Nedumaran (Tamil Nationalist Movement leader) and Ramadoss (PMK) who have direct and indirect links with the LTTE," was the reaction of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha to Ramadoss' demand for north-south bifurcation of Tamil Nadu.

Her comment sums up what happened in the state last week — on the one hand was Ramadoss' demand and on the other the World Tamil Confederation inaugural in which pro-LTTE voices were raised, describing the banned organisation as the "champion of Tamil cause". There was a surge of demands at the meeting for Indian, and especially Tamil Nadu's, participation to help the Lankan Tamils.

Though Confederation president and TNM leader P. Nedumaran said the meeting was not the venue to express support for the LTTE — especially since the police denied permission to hold the meet and the Madras High Court warned against naming LTTE or its leader V. Prabhakaran — voicing of pro-LTTE issues was, however, could not be suppressed.

This was what the government feared most. And the meet came despite the government's efforts to invoke POTA, under which Sivakasi MP Vaiko and his eight party colleagues were arrested on July 11. Lankan leaders who attended the meeting did not shy away from supporting the LTTE-Lanka peace talks.

Significantly, the speakers linked Lankan Tamils' cause to the LTTE, a proclaimed terrorist group. This was a concern, perhaps, shared by former chief minister Karunanidhi as well. For, LTTE is not the lone terror group operating now. It has its by products in separatist groups such as TNLA and TNRT. Reining in these elements — if the peace talks were to flounder or guns boom again in the island — would be a Herculean task.

Adding to this concern is a listless PMK hollering about a north-south bifurcation of Tamil Nadu. This demand is, perhaps, the only way through which Ramadoss could remain in the limelight. The PMK failed to make a mark in the Pondicherry Assembly elections despite banking on Vanniyar votes. Given that capturing power in northern Tamil Nadu is well-nigh impossible.

Having made a demand that is surely partisan, Ramadoss defended it stating it was purely for administrative reasons; but he has nevertheless attracted his share of criticism from politicians cutting across party lines who have termed the demand "dangerous".

Jayalalitha has called Ramadoss "a secessionist" who should be driven out of politics. Karunanidhi has requested Ramadoss not to pursue the issue further as it was dangerous. Having caught on with the idea, Ramadoss continues to press ahead with the bifurcation theory.

"Greater Tamil Nation is the Aim" claims Jayalalitha