TN should impose embargo on Kerala: DPI

Madurai, Nov 30 (UNI) Demanding that the Karunanidhi government impose an economic embargo on Kerala for its non-compliance with the Supreme Court order on the Periyar Dam, Dalit Panthers of India (DPI) General Secretary Thol Thirumavalavan today announced the party's support for the December 4 economic blockade by some groups.

Addressing the media here, he said the DPI would take part in the proposed stir called by the Periyar Dam Rights Retrieval Forum led by Tamil Nationalist Movement leader P Nedumaran.

Yesterday's talks between the Chief Ministers of the two states, held at New Delhi, had utterly failed to bring any hope of a resolution of the stalemate due to Kerala's 'intrasigence', he said and asked what was there to negotiate when the apex court order was very clear.

Many rounds of talks held in the past had been futile, he added.

The Dalit leader appealed to the DMK Government to declare a bandh on December 4, coinciding with the blockade, to send a strong message to Kerala to 'see reason' instead of being 'chauvinistic'.

DPI workers would participate in the economic blockade at all three strategic entry points to Kerala - Cumbum, Coimbatore and Shencottah, he added.

On Pappapatti and three other reserved panchayats in the region, where Dalits assumed office after a decade, following extension of reservation for another term, he wanted the State Government to bring an ordinance to provide statutory protection to the office bearers.

Elaborating this, he said these panchayats witnessed Dalit candidates sponsored by the dominant community resigning immediately after the elections. A case had been filed in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court against extension of reservation in these panchayats, which remained headless for two terms. In these circumstances, an ordinance or amendment to the Tamil Nadu Panchayati Raj Act was necessary.

Mr Thirumavalavan also sought quotas in polls to Cooperatives and demanded that elections be held under a separate statutory body to make them more transparent and without interference.

UNI CR PB HT1840