Comrade P. Maniarasan (TTPK) in solidarity with Kashmir's right to Self determination!

A massive protest was held in Madras on 11 February 2013 against the secretive hanging of Afzal Guru.. Thousands of Tamils gathered near Valluval Kottam, a memorial dedicated to an ancient Tamil poet, to pay their homage to Afzal Guru and to protest against the Indian state. The protest was presided over by Pazha. Nedumaran of the Tamil National Movement and Thol. Tirumavalavan of the Dalit Panthers of India. 

The leaders, in the course of their speeches, insisted that the execution of Afzal Guru was not based on rule of law and it is a shameful political act. They also highlighted how the UPA government wilfully denied Guru’s legal right to seek a legal review of the rejection of his mercy petition. The way the execution was carried out shows nothing but cowardice of the Union government, the leaders insisted. 

The protest was also addressed by other prominent Tamil leaders including Jawaharullah of the Manithaneya Makkal Kachi, Viduthalai Rajendran, the General Secretary of the Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhakam, Mallai Sathya of theMarumalarchi Dravidar Munnetra Kazhagam, P.Maniyarasan of the Tamil National Communist Party, Thiagu of the Tamil National Front,Thirumurugan of the May 17 Movement , Dr.Selvi of the Save Tamils and Arputhammal, the mother of the Arivu who is on death row in the Rajiv Gandhi Assassination case. 

Viduthalai Rajendran posed, if the Supreme Court has satisfied the collective consciousness of the nation by executing Afzal Guru, does this collective consciousness include the Kashmiris who protested against the death sentence of Afzal Guru, and the Tamils who continue to protest against the death penalty imposed on the putative assassins of Rajiv Gandhi. 

Kashmir’s right to self-determination was asserted by all the leaders who addressed the meeting. - See more at: 

Without proper mechanism in place, Karnataka may not implement Cauvery award - Comrade P.Maniarasan

Jubilation and a sense of relief marked the reaction of delta farmers to the notification of the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal on Wednesday.

Farmers appreciated the efforts taken by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa over the past few months to get the final award notified.

P.Maniarasan, Coordinator of Cauvery Urimai Meetpu Kuzhu, said, “Though delayed, we welcome the notification of the award. But experience shows that without proper mechanism in place , Karnataka may not implement it.

P.R.Pandian, State Council Member of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam said the Tamil Nadu government should ensure water for kuruvai this year by getting its due share of water from Karnataka as per the final award.

‘JUSTICE DENIED’

Our Special Correspondent from Tiruchi adds:

The Federation of Farmers Associations - Cauvery Delta Districts, while expressing its happiness over the gazetting of the Award, however expressed disappointment that Tamil Nadu has lost largely ‘its ancient and traditional rights’ over the Cauvery.

Though the Centre has finally bowed to the Supreme Court and notified the award, the federation observed: “Justice delayed is justice denied.”

Owing to the delay in constituting the Cauvery Tribunal for more than 20 years and the delay in delivering the final award for more than 16 Years, Tamil Nadu had lost largely its ancient and traditional rights over the Cauvery, Arupathi P.Kalyanam, its general secretary, said in a statement.

Our Staff Reporter from Karur adds:

The working president of Cauvery Delta Farmers’ Welfare Association Mahadhanapuram V.Rajaram expressed wholehearted satisfaction over the outcome.

JUSTICE DONE

“We feel that justice has been done finally,” he said.

At the same time, he said the delta ryots believed that the notification was neither a victory for Tamil Nadu farmers nor defeat for the opposite party in the case but only provided the opportunity to understand each other’s plight better.

(Courtesy: The Hindu)

Move to have Hindi signboards in Madurai backfires

MADURAI: In a state which saw fierce anti- Hindi stir in the 1960s, the Madurai district administration has been forced to drop its latest move to have signboards in Hindi along with Tamil and English after it triggered protests.

The signboards put up in the hope of helping hundreds of tourists visiting the temple city were being removed in deference to the wishes of the people, Collector Anshul Mishra said after the move drew the ire of several local outfits.

"Respecting sentiments of our Tamil brothers and sisters, I am ready to take back my words regarding issue of trilingual boards and use of Hindi in these boards....I am here to serve people ofTamil Nadu and not to promote my mother tongue," Mishra, who is from the North, said on social networking site Facebook.

Officials said the installation of such signboards has been interpreted by some groups like Tamil Desa Pothu Udamai Katchi, which had demonstrated over the issue this month, as promoting Hindi by Mishra.