Chennai, March 12-The DMK election manifesto released on Tuesday morning fell short of a step for demanding a separate Eelam. The manifesto said that the DMK will urge the Govt of India to take immediate actions for conducting a “referendum” under the supervision of UN among Tamils in northern and eastern provinces of Sri Lanka and migrated Eelam Tamils to choose a permanent political solution of their choice. It also said that as an interim relief press the Lankan regime to implement the provisions of the 13th Constitutional amendment. This is in stark contrast to the AIADMK election manifesto which categorically promised a separate Eelam, if it comes to power at centre. Though the DMK manifesto talk about referendum, it did not used the word separate Eelam.
The manifesto released by the party president M. Karunanidhi at the party headquarters in Chennai surprisingly did not promise any sops or freebies. This is also in total contrast to the DMK’s arch rival AIADMK’s manifesto, which promised that it will expand its freebies which includes laptops, mixers, grinders, ceiling fans, etc to the rest of the country. This is the first time in the past decade that the DMK manifesto did not promised any freebies. It may be recalled that DMK promised freebies and sops like colour TV, rice for Rs.2, gas stove with one connection, etc in its previous election manifestos in the last decade.
The manifesto promises waiver of education loans. It promised that the DMK will oppose FDI in retail. Income ceiling for I-T exemption will be raised for Rs.6 lakhs to men and Rs.7.20 lakhs for women and also promises I-T exemption for gratuity and provident fund paid on the day of retirement to retiring govt employees. In an another promise the DMK said ten lakh women will be appointed as people’s welfare workers for propagating govt welfare schemes in rural areas. Similarly ten lakh youth will be employed as road workers throughout India for maintaining the 13,000 km Golden Quadrilateral roads.
The manifesto among other things talks about changes in the MNERGA scheme, minimum support price for paddy, sugarcane, copra and tea, urge the centre for gauge conversion of all rail routes in Tamil Nadu, steps will be taken for making Tamil as official language in central govt offices and Tamil as court language in the Madras High Court. The DMK also said that it will retrieve Katchatheevu for the welfare of Tamil Nadu fishermen. The party will also fight appointing only qualified Tamils as Envoys to the nations in which Tamils live considerably.
Later, while talking to media Karunanidhi said that he did not expect any more political parties in the DMK led alliance. Answering specific question that whether not having an alliance with any of the national parties will be a set back for the DMK’s chances, Karunanidhi said a categorical no. He further said that going to the electorate without any major allies will not affect his party’s winning chances. DMK is going to the polls with a couple of Muslim outfits and another two small Dalit outfits. This is the first time since 1999 Lok Sabha elections the DMK is embarking upon its own course of action plan. While it fought with the BJP in 1999, it faced the 2004 and 2009 polls with the Congress.
-IndiaToday
