Tamil Nadu politicians continued to use the Sri Lankan Tamil issue in their election campaigns despite the government claiming the war has almost ended.

AIDMK General Secretary Jayalalitha Jeyaram surprised the Tamil Nadu political circles by supporting the Tamileelam concept, the same belief that has driven the LTTE for the last 30 years.

However, it is likely that Jayalalitha’s promise ‘to carve a separate state for Tamils’ is just plain rhetoric.

The statement surprised her rival, namely, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK Leader M. Karunanidhi. Jayalalitha is known for her anti LTTE stand. She has been voicing her criticism of the LTTE over many years, especially after the killing of India’s former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

The LTTE glady welcomed Jayalalitha’s latest stance on the Sri Lankan Tami issue. According to Indian media reports, Jayalalitha in one of her election campaigns in Erode, 370 km south of Chennai, last Saturday had said that a ‘separate state was the only solution for the Tamils suffering in the country.’ She had said that she was moved by the plight of the Tamils, who were ‘forced to live in concentration camps.’

Welcome support

This sudden shift in Jayalalitha’s stance was manna from heavan for pro-LTTE groups and their supporters in Tamil Nadu.

The likes of PMK Founder Dr. S. Ramadoss, who himself is a LTTE supporter stated that the politicians had finally realised the need of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka.

Another LTTE supporter, Y. Gopalaswamy (Vaiko) of the MDMK has now joined forces with the AIADMK to contest the elections.

However, Jayalalitha to date has not voiced her direct support for the LTTE, even after calling for a separate state.  The LTTE is a banned organisation in several countries, including India.

Dr. Ramadoss and Vaiko together with Karunanidhi have initiated several protests and agitations in Tamil Nadu in support of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka and calling for a ceasefire since late last year.

The Sri Lankan government however has been unmoved by these protests stating even the Indian central government was concerned about eliminating terrorism, before a political settlement could be arrived at.

Double standards

Karunanidhi too was accused of double standards on the Sri Lankan issue. He, on a couple of occasions threatened to withdraw support for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government headed by Congress, but did not do so. A few days ago, he commenced a ‘fast’ that lasted no more than a few hours. He ended the ‘fast’ once the Sri Lankan government announced that it would stop using heavy weapons within the safe zones. 

Jayalalitha, who was silent when Karunanidhi was at the forefront, has now come out strongly with her support for a separate state for the Tamils.

The focus at the moment has turned towards the IDPs and those who are trapped in the Safe Zone.