Latest news with #VelupillaiPrabhakaran
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
All except DMK and Congress are in touch with me… both Dravidian parties are enemies of our ethnicity: NTK Chief Seeman
In an interview, says he was invited to align with parties every election but chose an independent path. He also says should decide on joining hands with him. "When ideology takes the lead, there is nothing wrong with cinema coming into it." Excerpts: The Election Commission of India recently recognised NTK as a state party and assigned it a symbol. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Recognition for our efforts was overdue. It's a long journey driven by the dreams of our ancestors, fuelled by persistence. I spoke with my leader (late LTTE Chief Velupillai Prabhakaran) about the journey, and its true purpose emerged only after the war. If I am standing alone, it is because I am a person who has a principle that permanent victory should not be lost for temporary defeats; permanent defeat should not be accepted for temporary victories. NTK is one of the few parties to receive recognition without cash for votes or in an alliance. Prior to this, it was Vijayakanth, and the reason for that was he was a famous actor. Getting 36 lakh votes is encouraging for NTK. What's your strategy for the 2026 assembly election? Given the lack of financial strength, the only way to win is hard work. NTK has been discussing issues related to language and natural resources for 15 years. The party's candidate selection includes a mix of demographics: Our 234 candidates will be the best; 117 women and 117 men, including 134 youths. Our strategy is to telecast our plan for governance. There is corruption, bribery, cash for votes, mis-governance, looting of resources, hooch tragedies, sexual offences, and illegal mining of resources. Why contest alone after repeated electoral defeats? Why should I float my own party if the plan is to simply align with the established ones? I could have been in the . Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It negates the idea of being an alternative. I must carry my dream on my shoulders. If I leave it and trust you to go to Tirupathur, what will I do if you go to Tirupati? I aspire for increased job opportunities, environmental protection, and corruption eradication through a self-dependent economy. We sow the seeds. If we cannot harvest them, let another generation come and harvest them. Your recent birthday wishes to AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami have sparked speculation about you softening your stance towards the party. DMK, AIADMK, BJP, and are considered equal adversaries of NTK. Both Dravidian parties are enemies of our ethnicity. The flag colours of the two parties might be different, but their policies and practices of liquor, bribery, corruption, and cash for votes remain. When it comes to BJP and Congress, one will demolish a mosque, and the other will allow it. One party will lay the foundation for a temple, and the other will extend wishes. Did AIADMK approach you before reaching out to Vijay to explore an alliance? These attempts began when former chief minister J Jayalalithaa was alive. She extended an invitation in 2016. Barring DMK and Congress, all parties are in touch with me. They call me every election, though I tell them I don't want to be bothered. There were reports that you were working to unite the AIADMK groups. I discussed the split when V K Sasikala came out of jail. She said Palaniswami did not agree to the unification. Palaniswami's decision to align with BJP is not universally supported within AIADMK. An alliance with BJP will be beneficial in deciding who should rule India. What is the benefit in determining who should rule Tamil Nadu? BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran has spoken about the party being keen on aligning. Everyone before him talked to us. I cannot align with national or Dravidian parties. National parties will destroy the language and prioritise religion over humanity. There is a lack of differentiation between the policies of Congress and BJP, be it external affairs, security, or economy. Examples are NEET and GST. I met everyone and refused to align with them. Your shift from admiring Periyar to criticising him is viewed by some as aligning with BJP's stance against Dravidian politics. Do the views align because both of us speak Tamil and worship the same God, Murugan? They believe Periyar's ideology is against religion, while I view him as an "enemy of our own race". He spoke disparagingly of my mother tongue, saying it's a barbaric language. Tamil is the oldest language, and several languages were born out of Tamil. Opponents credit Tamil Nadu's accomplishments to the Dravidian movement's social justice principles. What does social justice have to do with them? Why are we seeking a caste-wise census? TN has significant resources, which Nobel laureate Amartya Sen noted could position it as a major economic force. Still, our mothers are left to ask for `1,000. Vijay's approach combines Dravidam and Tamil nationalism, while NTK has an anti-Dravidam stance. He does not know how Dravidam and Tamil nationalism cannot become one. Tamil nationalism arose to combat the negative aspects of Dravidam. His understanding is incomplete. Is Vijay a threat to NTK? I don't see him as one. TN faces a dangerous phenomenon of 'screen charm', which is not as prevalent in other states. People are focused on entertainment and fun, hindering readiness for societal change. The state has been dealing with this for four decades from the days of M G Ramachandran. There will be consequences if it continues to overshadow good politics, leadership, and commitment to people. You earlier said you may team up with Vijay. What happened? He should be the one to decide. When ideology takes the lead, there is nothing wrong with "cinema" coming into it. If someone who carries an ideology turns around and surrenders to "cinema," it won't work out. He accepts Periyar as a guiding force while we see Periyar as a historical enemy of our race. That is why it is difficult to join hands. Has BJP approached Vijay? I am told they have. Wouldn't the two of you make a powerful combo? Vijay can join me if he thinks my policies are beneficial. I don't need an alliance. I have announced candidates for more than 100 constituencies, and work is on for another 70 seats. Is there a chance of seeing NTK, TVK, and AIADMK joining hands closer to the election? We cannot join hands with any party. Will others listen to me if I reflect on the words of our leader, Prabhakaran? I will put up a picture of the leader and have a tiger flag; will they align with me? My ideology differs from others. I see confusion in the guidance given to Vijay. He should consider altering the underlying ideology or the person crafting it. Isn't going against every party a disadvantage? Anura Kumara Dissanayake got only 3% of the votes initially, but now governs Sri Lanka with 53%. The BJP's victory in Tripura saw its vote share jump from 2% to 44%. My vote share increased from 1% to 5% and then to 8%. If former BJP President K Annamalai had not formed an alliance, I would have gained an additional 5%-6% of votes. Wouldn't a split in anti-DMK votes benefit the DMK alliance? People vote for me because they believe it will benefit the state and people. I want to change the fundamental structure of politics, not displace DMK and install AIADMK, or the reverse. Will anti-corruption be an important plank in 2026? Corruption will cease if someone honest like me assumes office. Can DMK, AIADMK, BJP, or Congress genuinely address corruption? The BJP received most of its funding through electoral bonds. Do DMK and AIADMK have the moral high ground to discuss the issue? How do you view Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership? BJP has been in power for 12 years. What are the significant developments during this period? The Clean India initiative and promise to provide two crore jobs a year are empty statements. We waged a war, but why should we justify our actions to other countries? Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, while in the USA, said one country shouldn't dictate another's defence policies. That is an example of leadership.
Indian Express
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
In Sri Lanka, a divided national memory of a brutal civil war
Written by Saurabh Sixteen years after the end of the decades-long civil war, Sri Lanka observed a period of remembrance on May 19. The annual commemoration honours the thousands of Sri Lankan military personnel who died during the conflict that drew to a close on May 18, 2009, following the death of Velupillai Prabhakaran, the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Speaking at the 16th War Heroes' Commemoration Ceremony in Battaramulla, Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said this commemoration is not merely a remembrance of the war's conclusion, but also a pledge to unite all communities — Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher, and Malay — in building a nation rooted in brotherhood and harmony, rather than allowing divisions to reignite. Further, the President denounced the exploitation of ethnic tensions for political gain, stating that divisions were deliberately manufactured in the past to seize and sustain power. However, many Sri Lankan Tamils observed Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day on May 18 to mourn the thousands of Tamil civilians who lost their lives. Tamil diaspora communities around the world also held their own remembrance events, reiterating calls for justice, accountability, and a lasting political solution. Relatives of the victims have steadfastly called for accountability regarding the deaths of civilians, estimated at 40,000 by the United Nations, during the concluding conflict in Mullivaikkal, as well as the forced disappearance of numerous individuals, including those who surrendered to the military. Sri Lanka's civil war continues to deeply shape the nation's political landscape, social fabric, and quest for lasting peace and reconciliation in 2025. A major ongoing issue is the continued division surrounding remembrance and historical narratives. The government's commemoration of National War Heroes stands in contrast to the solemn observance of Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day. This divergence highlights the differing perspectives on the conflict's end and the ongoing struggle for a shared national memory that acknowledges the suffering of all communities. The critical issue of accountability and justice for wartime atrocities remains a point of contention. Despite reports by the United Nations detailing credible allegations of war crimes committed by both state forces and the LTTE, domestic mechanisms for accountability have been widely criticised as insufficient and lacking independence. Even after 16 years, victim families, particularly within the Tamil community, continue their long-standing calls for credible investigations and prosecutions. Canada has designated May 18 as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day and also inaugurated the Tamil Genocide Monument in Brampton. It has endorsed independent international initiatives aimed at achieving accountability. In response, Sri Lanka has expressed its 'strong objections', arguing that such measures 'complicate and undermine' the government's endeavours for reconciliation and national unity. For India, the human cost of the Sri Lankan conflict was officially recognised in April this year when Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute at the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) Memorial in Sri Lanka. This event honoured the Indian soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice during India's intervention in the conflict in the late 1980s, underscoring India's long-standing historical and humanitarian connection to the Sri Lankan civil war. India has consistently advocated for the full implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution, which proposes devolution of power to provincial councils, as a means to address Tamil political aspirations. Prime Minister Modi reportedly reiterated this stance and emphasised the importance of holding provincial council elections to ensure greater political representation for the Tamil community. Meanwhile, many in Tamil Nadu too marked Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day. The emotional observances in the state highlight the deep linguistic, cultural, and familial ties with Sri Lankan Tamils and the enduring impact of the conflict on the Indian Tamil population and their continued solidarity with their kin across the Palk Strait. The contrasting nature of these commemorations underscores the ongoing process of healing and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. While the government's focus remains on honouring the armed forces and the restoration of peace, the Tamil community's remembrance highlights the urgent need to address the loss of civilian lives and the enduring impact of the war on their community. It demonstrates that while the fighting has ended, the journey towards a shared understanding of the past and a unified future for all Sri Lankans continues to be a complex and sensitive undertaking. The calls for truth and justice, particularly concerning alleged human rights violations during the war, remain a significant aspect of the remembrance for many. The writer is associate professor, Centre for South Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University
