Stalin roots for casteless society in TN

Tirunelveli, Dec 16 (UNI) DMK Deputy General Secretary and Tamil Nadu Local Administration Minister M K Stalin today called upon the party cadres to take a vow to strive for creating a casteless society in the state.

Delivering his presidential address at the first-ever State-level DMK Youth Wing conference here, he said ''caste system has divided the Tamils. Hence, the youths should take a pledge on the centenary year of late Dravidian leader C N Annadurai to create a casteless society and unite the people under one banner - Tamils.'' ''We are not after power and position. These things should come to us on their own in a deserving manner and our actions and programmes should be based on this approach,'' he said.

Stepping up the offensive against the new parties floated by actors, Mr Stalin said the only ambition of fledgling parties was to capture power and sit in the Chief Minister's chair. Such parties and leaders keep springing up instantly. Though they were welcome in a democracy, the youths must critically ask whether these political leaders have any ideals and programmes.

Without naming actor-politicians Vijayakant and Saratkumar, who had floated parties recently, he said for some political leaders, ''politics has become a part-time business.'' He cautioned the youths not to get carried away by the mushrooming parties and new leaders.

Recalling the history of Dravidian movement, Mr Stalin said the DMK was formed in 1949, but entered electoral politics only in 1957.

''The DMK, led by Mr Annadurai, did not capture power in a day. We came to power only in 1967, after long years of sacrifice.'' He said between 1949 and 2007, several parties have been formed in the State. But many of them could not survive as the main agenda of the leaders was only self-interest.

UNI