Tension, tumult grip MDMK supporters

(April 10, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) A ‘sedition case’ registered against MDMK general secretary Vaiko by the Chennai City Police today led to moments of tension and anxiety in front of his house at Anna Nagar, as party activists and media persons gathered in large numbers expecting some action from the police.

However, with the police making no attempt to arrest the political leader till this afternoon, Vaiko, a longtime supporter of the banned LTTE, left for his party heaquarters Thayagam at Egmore, after waving enthusiastically to hundreds of his supporters.

The mood among the MDMK cadre was one of hurt. ‘Our leader is continuously harrowed down. His words of supports to the suffering of Tamils in Lanka are always used in a mischievous manner by the authorities,’ said an agitated supporter.

The police registered a sedition case against Vaiko yesterday, for his Wednesday’s speech warning that India would not remain one country if the war against the LTTE in Sri Lanka was not stopped.

A FIR was filed against Vaiko, a day after he warned of a bloodbath in Tamilnadu if LTTE chief Prabhakaran was harmed. ‘Charges have been made against Vaiko for spreading disaffection among people and speaking against the banned LTTE,’ an official said.

Reports have it that the case has been registered under 13 (1) b of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2004 (advocating, abetting, advising or inciting the commission of any unlawful activity) and also under Section 124 -A and Section 505 (1) (b) of the Indian Penal Code.

Section 124-A relates to sedition (attempting to bring into hatred or contempt or exciting or attempting to excite disaffection towards the Government established by law in India). Section 505 (1) (b) relates to statements conducing to public mischief (making statement with intent to cause fear or alarm to the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquillity).

Vaiko on Wednesday said: ‘Prabhakaran lives in the hearts of Tamils. Tamils all over the world do not want even a small harm happening to him. If anything happens to him there will be a bloodbath in Tamilnadu.’ Also, MDMK activists staged protest and rallies against alleged killing of innocent Tamilians by the Sri Lanka army all over Tamilnadu.

They blamed the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government in New Delhi for allegedly extending military aid to the Sri Lankan defence forces in the mass killing of Tamilians in Sri Lanka.

-Sri Lanka Guardian