Chennai: The war in Sri Lanka has sparked a
full-fledged political agitation in Tamil Nadu. The
ruling DMK is trying to balance its lacklustre
opposition to the Centre's Sri Lanka policy, and its
inability to address the Tamil cause in Sri Lanka
effectively.
The army offensive in Sri Lanka in its final phase
but in India across the sea protests against the war
are growing louder in Tamil Nadu. There has been a
huge public outcry following the
self-immolation of
a man Muthukumar on January 29. All colleges and
hostels across the state have been closed
indefinitely. No cases will be heard in courts
because the lawyers have announced an indefinite
boycott.
"Even yesterday the Sri Lankan government has bombed
some place in Mullaitivu and killed hundreds of
civilians. If this be the case how can we withdraw
the strike? The boycott is on," said S Prabakaran,
the President of the Tamil Nadu Advocates
Association.
The ruling DMK government is in a tight spot. Even
while the party is trying to project itself as the
champion of the Tamil cause, it cannot afford to get
on the wrong side of the ruling UPA ally - the
Congress party.
The balancing act is turning so tricky for K
Karunanidhi's government that even after receiving
no encouraging response from the center, the DMK has
not made its position clear.
The party now stands isolated with its own allies
accusing it of double standards.
"We are not satisfied with actions of the center and
that's why we have made these resolutions," said K
Karunanidhi vaguely.
With the pro-Tamil political parties gaining
strength in the state, the DMK is being forced to
put pressure on the Centre to intervene and demand
for ceasefire in Sri Lanka.
But with the Centre in no mood to relent and
ironically, there is hardly anything the DMK can do
because it needs the Congress' support to remain in
power in Tamil Nadu.