DMK holds conclave on Tamil issue

12 August 2012 05:57 am Views - 2833

After Chennai Police denied permission to hold a public meeting in an apparent effort to revive the defunct Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO), the DMK is holding a conclave on the Sri Lankan Tamil issue at a private hotel in the city.

DMK patriarch Karunanidhi is presiding over this meeting. His daughter Ms Kanimozhi and Union Minister TR Baalu are present among a delegation of around 40 leaders at the conclave.

Yesterday, the DMK had challenged the Chennai Police's denial of permission to hold the public meeting. The Police had denied permission citing eleven reasons including lack of adequate space at the venue, including disturbance to the Royapettah Government Hospital nearby, traffic congestion and a possible law and order situation. A divisional bench of the Madras High Court will hear the party's petition on the issue today.

Speaking to reporters today, DMK MP Kanimozhi said, "A separate Eelam is a far-fetched dream. TESO conference is to discuss the rights and rehabilitation of the Lankan Tamils." Tamil Eelam, which refers to the creation of separate homeland for Tamils in Sri Lanka, is one of the key issues over which both the ruling AIADMK and the opposition DMK are trying to garner public support during elections. Political analysts say, after a huge defeat in the Tamil Nadu assembly polls the DMK chief was consolidating his vote bank by using the Tamil card to improve his party's tally in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.(NDTV)