VCK not to dilute stand on Tamil Eelam

Chennai: Dalit-based Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), a constituent of the DMK-led alliance, on Wednesday said the combine was only a "poll-time arrangement" and the party would not "dilute" its stand on the demand for separate statehood for Sri Lankan Tamils.

"This is a poll-time arrangement. There is no change in our stand on Tamil Eelam," VCK founder Thol Thirumavalavan told reporters after releasing his party's manifesto for the April 13 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

He was replying to questions on whether his party was comfortable working with Congress, which is also part of the alliance, as VCK had consistently blamed the alleged failure of Centre in preventing the Tamil civilian casualty during the last phase of Eelam War during which the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was decimated.

"We will not dilute our stand," he said but assured his party's commitment towards ensuring the victory of the DMK-led alliance.

Congress and VCK have had strained relations even while being part of the DMK-led alliance in the past. VCK workers have even allegedly attacked TNCC headquarters here during the height of the conflict in the island nation.

VCK will contest ten seats as part of the alliance.

Demanding a national policy on implementing prohibition across the country, Thirumavalavan said it would be the "service Congress-led UPA would be doing to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi."

When pointed out that a bulk of Tamil Nadu government's revenue was realised from sale of liquor, through state-owned marketing corporation TASMAC, he said there was no need that all allies held similar policies.

"We differ on prohibition. We want it to be implemented across the country. That is the service the Congress-led government can do for Mahatma Gandhi," he said, adding the poor sections of the society were most affected by the habit of consuming alcohol.

Among others, VCK would work for Tamil-medium instruction and welfare of Dalits, Muslims and women, the party manifesto said.

On MDMK's decision to boycott poll following failure to arrive at a seat-sharing agreement with AIADMK, he said the former had been "betrayed" and asked the Vaiko-led party to reconsider its decision and participate in the electoral exercise.