Political leaders ask MK to protect world Tamils

Leaders of different political parties today urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to take serious efforts along with the Central Government to protect interests of the Tamils living across the world, including in Sri Lanka.

Speaking on a discussion "Engum Tamil, Ethilum Tamil" (Tamil everywhere, Tamil in everything) as part of the ongoing World Classical Tamil Conference here, CPI National Secretary D Raja said before debating the topic, one should take stock of the present condition of Tamil language in India.

Were both the state and central governments taking steps to protect the language and the rights of the people, protecting their individuality and identity? he asked.

The Tamils in India, for that matter the Central Government, could not raise their voice against the ‘genocide’ in Sri Lanka, despite the United Nations pointing out ‘human rights violations’ (in Sri Lanka during the war against LTTE), he said.

Stating that the individual identity of all the languages in India had been wiped out after the globalisation in 1990, Raja said to protect Tamil and to see its growth, government should bring out a policy, by which the language could be taken to technical peak, moving along with the global change.

Since the students were afraid to study in Tamil medium for fear of not getting proper employment, the government should take responsibility to provide them secured jobs, he said.

Senior CPIM leader Sitaram Yechury, in his brief address, said the ‘universality’ of Tamil would enrich the civilisation and oneness of the country.

He urged Karunanidhi to take steps to document and preserve for the future generation the tradition of Tamil, its folk arts and village habits.

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol Tirumavalavan said Tamils in Sri Lanka had become orphans and Karunanidhi should take serious efforts to make their dream fulfilled and help them create a separate Eeelam.

The government should fight for making Tamil as official language in administration and also high court, he said.

Dravida Kazhakam Secretary K Veeramani stressed the need for removing obstacles for the growth of Tamil language.

Steps should be taken to protect the rights of Tamils living in different parts of India and the World. They should not be let to live like Tamils in Sri Lanka, who were still enclosed in barbed wire campus, Veeramani said.

TNCC President K V Thangkabalu said Tamil was the main reason for the Congress losing its power in Tamil Nadu, since late C N Annadurai and DMK leaders took regional issues.

For the development of Tamil, he put forth 10 suggestions to Karunanidhi, which indluded compulsory Tamil education upto High school level, creation of facility to learn Tamil to the children living outside the state and also overseas.

A separate ministry should be created for the development of Tamil language and also to preserve the tradition and arts, he said.

PMK President G K Mani said the government should take steps to make communnications of all departments in Tamil.

Mani also urged the state government to take serious efforts to protect the lives of Tamils across the world, particularly in Sri Lanka.

Senior BJP leader L Ganesan said unless the people take initiative to speak Tamil compulsorily, no government order could help in promoting the language. The people should realise they have the duty to protect and preserve their language from extinction and try to use only their mothertongue, while communicating, Ganesan said.

[Full Coverage]

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