STATE AUTONOMY:

MDMK emphasizes that the multi national and multi linguistic states in the Indian sub-continent should have full autonomy in their own states and the central political environment also should be used to help, the states to come forward voluntarily to accept the coalition government in the center.

Perarignar Anna, in his last article named Pongal Vizha had demanded the review and reframing of the Indian constitution. The union government must feel this necessity, and this is the basic expectation of all the linguistic states from the center.

Indian sub-continent consists of many linguistic nationalities, so to save India from disintegration, the central government must take care of the territorial integrity and assure personal liberty to its citizens and, must empower the states to safeguard the individual identity of the linguistic nationalities and maintain the equality in languages and cultures of the various national groups, and safeguard their security.

We have yet to change the centralized government. Peraringnar Anna addressed the students conference as a C.M. “We have renounced separatism, but the reasons for the separatism are alive, and we will fight as an Indian to get justice, what justice the reasons of separatism demands.”

Many clauses in the Central and Concurrent List should be transferred to State List. In 1950 many of the state powers were transferred to Concurrent List, and they should be brought back to the states. The remaining constitutional powers should be removed from the constitution just because, it is empowering the center to dismiss the state governments.

The Central Government is biased against TamilNadu right from 1947. That is why many projects have not been approved. In the last 15 years so many terrorist activities and bomb blasts occurred in Punjab, Kashmir and North Eastern states. So it is the crucial time for us to accept whole – heartedly the coalition government in the center, and the absolute autonomy to the states. To further strengthen the deep roots of democracy and to stop disparity among the states, MDMK aims to bring the great change. i.e. the state autonomy in the Indian political scenario at the earliest as envisaged by Anna.

Opposition against

Hindi Imposition

Ever since 1920’s the Tamil people have protested against the imposition of Hindi. In 1923 in the Madras Presidency Congress Conference Periyar Opposed the imposition of Hindi. In 1925 Periyar wrote in Kudiarasu magazine an article titled “The place for Hindi and treachery against Tamil”. In that article, he explained in crystal clear terms that imposing Hindi is nothing but a “plot” and he cautioned the Tamil people against the Hindi domination and made them to fight for their language.

To defeat all the steps taken b the central government to impose Hindi in Tamilnadu; Periyar, Anna and so many Tamil scholars jumped in the battle.

“Anja Nenjan” Alagiri’s participation in this Hindi agitation was important. They all went to jail. Hindi suffered a set-back by these activities. Pandit Nehru promised that till Hindi is accepted voluntarily by the non Hindi speaking people, English would continue as associate official language.

In 1968 when the bill declaring Hindi to be the National language was passed, Anna opposed it tooth and nail. In 1965 too; Anna opposed it strongly.

Kizhapavur Chinnaswamy, Sivalingam, Aranganathan, Mayavaram Sarangapani, Teacher Veerappan, Kirnaur Muthu, Viralimalai Shanmuham, Sathyamangalam Muthu, self immolated themselves against the Hindi imposition. Thousands went to jail and many gae up their lives.

The 1967 election showed us that the Tamil people would never accept Hindi. After knowing this the state legislature passed the two language bill, even then the central government without implementing the Nehru policy, directly or indirectly is trying to impose Hindi on non-Hindi speaking people. “If this situation continues, India’s integrity will be jeopardized” says MDMK.

To find a permanent solution for this official language problem the central government should declare all the languages in the Eighth schedule as official languages.

To start with Tamil, the world’s oldest language should be declared as one of the official languages and in the meantime English should be the link language between the states, and state and central.

Tamil Ealam:

The MDMK believes that a separate home land i.e. Tamil Ealam for the Tamils is the only way to sole. The ethnic problem in Sri Lanka.

Reservation:

The attainment of reservation in educational institutions and as well as in government jobs is a victory for social justice movement. MDMK wants that the state governments should have the liberty to fix their own reservation quota in the respective states. Union of India should amend the constitution to give effect to this demand.

Retake the Katchatheeve:

By the 1974 agreement the rights on Katchatheevu enjoyed by the Indian citizens was given away to Sri Lanka to get the goodwill.

This decision adversely affects the right of the Indian fishermen folk.

Katchatheevu, is registered as a territory under the Ramanathapuram sub-registrar office. This land belonging to the Tamils being handed over to Sri Lanka is a great betrayal of the Tamil people.

The fishermen who go to katchatheevu are being handled mercilessly. The Tamil lands being given away to Sri Lanka without the concurrence of the people of Tamil Nadu was condemned.

To protect the Tamil fishermen, and to safeguard the rights of Tamils and maintain the status-quo, to prevent the murderous army of Sri Lanka, the central government must retake Katchatheevu.

The conference resolves to mobilize public opinion to retake Katchatheevu to create a conducive environment for the same.

Divert the westward flowing rivers to Tamilnadu:

In Tamil Nadu southern districts Madurai, Dindigul, Virudhunagar, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Kovai, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli & Kanyakumari are rain shadow regions and drought prone. So the rivers of Kerala must be channelaised through tunnels, and the waters would irrigate the drought prone southern districts.

In Kerala the water sources are surplus and the surplus flows waste into the Arabian Sea. The Salaiyar, Bharathapuza, Challakudi, Periyar, Alliyaru, have their origin in Tamilnadu and re-directing the surplus waters to Tamilnadu is a viable scheme.

Inspite of many meetings of central and concerned state governments, it has not yielded any result, so the central government should in consultation with the Kerala government re-direct the rivers to Tamilnadu.

Without discriminating Tamilnadu

Implement the pending projects in Delhi

The central government is biased against Tamilnadu while implementing the central government schemes. Anna has also protested and organized a protest day in this regard.

The Sedhu Samudhram Canal Project is an example for the discriminatory attitude of the centre. This project had been studied 9 times during British rule; approved by the centre in 1963. Inspite of all these, this project has not, so far been taken up. The attitude of the centre is to satisfy the Sri Lankan government. If the project is implemented Tuticorin would become a major port in Indian Ocean.

1. Sethu Canal project.
2. Hoganekal Hydro electric project.
3. Diversion of west flowing rivers to Tamilnadu.
4. Kolachal port project in Kanyakumari.
5. Expanding the Cuddalore port project.
6. To expand Salem Steel Plant project.
7. Expansion of Ooty Hindustan Film manufacturing factory and to start a colour film manufacturing factory.
8. Conversion of all lines to broad gauge in Tamilnadu.
9. Ennore Harbour project.
10. From Marakkanam to Andhra – Buckingam water way transport project.

These are some of the projects. Similarly the East Coast road, thermal power station and many other schemes are also pending before the central government.

The Government should give due importance to the South Indian tourist spots, as is given to North Indian tourist spots.

Salt factory, Neiveli Lignite factory expansions are also being ignored by the central government. When compared to other states Tamilnadu is given a step – motherly treatment.

The government at the centre is purposely discriminating Tamilnadu. So, for the betterment of Tamil people, these pending projects should be immediately implemented.

Taking steps to safeguard the fishermen:

Due to the multinationals modernized fishing activities, the common fishermen is having a difficult time. Narasima Rao, had given permission for deep sea fishing to 194 multinational fishing companies which is an injustice to our fisherman folks. The central & state governments must promote the fishermen by giving them modern equipments.

Even after repeated reminders to Central Government to protect the Tamil fishermen from repeated attacks by the Srilankan navy, the central government is negligent. Both the state government and central government must awake from their slumber and protect the Tamil fishermen.