Tamil Nadu gears up for more protests

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 January 2009, 05:27 GMT]
A state-wide common front of college and university students' organisations in Tamil Nadu launched protests against New Delhi and the state government demanding immediate action in stopping the war, which seeks to subjugate Tamil people who have refused to surrender into the hands of the Sri Lanka Army despite the physical and psychological war on them. 200,000 students took part in the 32 districts of the state on Wednesday, according to Dr. Vengadachalam, the organisor of the College Students' Coordinating Committee, a newly formed alliance of the students' organisations.



The students protest has gained significance as parties such as Communist Party of India (CPI), Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), Viduthalai Chiruththaikal Katchi (VCK) and Pazh Nedumaran's Tamil Nationalist Movement (TNM) extended support with their students' organisations.

Even as PMK's founder-leader Dr. S. Ramadoss led an agitation Tuesday at the Chennai Collectorate protesting the Central Government's inaction in procuring a ceasefire in the wake of the precarious situation of Tamil civilians in Vanni, other political parties in the state have announced party-wise protests.

D. Pandian, State Secretary of the CPI has announced statewide agitations in front of the district collectorates on Friday.

The CPI has squarely blamed the Congress Government at the Center, and the Karunanidhi-led Tamil Nadu Government for failing to act on a grave problem.

MDMK General Secretary Vaiko has announced state-wide demonstrations on January 28 condemning the State and Central Governments for their inaction towards the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Vanni.

In a statement released from Chennai Tuesday, he blamed the Indian External Affairs Minister for failing to undertake a trip to Colombo to pressurize for a ceasefire.

The VCK has announced a "Sri Lankan flag burning demonstration" on February 4. "The Sinhalese flag will be burnt throughout the state to register our anger towards the genocidal government," VCK President Thirumavalavan had announced while concluding his indefinite hunger strike.