CHENNAI, India—Violence recently broke out in Tamil Nadu, a state of India, caused by members of the Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi (VCK) political party. Over 30 government buses were reported to be damaged, of which four were completely burned. State police arrested more than 100 of the party workers, and a “shoot on sight” order was given in two districts to control the situation.
The violence by VCK party workers was in apparent support of VCK leader Thol Thirumavalvan, who had gone on fast demanding a cease fire between the ‘Tamil Tigers’ terrorist group and the government in Sri Lanka. He received full support from a number of state parties, and had threatened an indefinite strike until a ceasefire is announced in Sri Lanka. In the end he called it off under the suggestion of the leader of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), another political party in Tamil.
The incident has put the state government under pressure, with Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi urging politicians not to use the issue to attack congress but instead to look at the issue of Sri Lankan Tamil citizens being killed. Karunanidhi also expressed dissatisfaction toward the Indian government’s reaction to the issue, and demanded the prompt visit of Foreign Affairs Minister Pranab Mukerji to Sri Lanka to resolve the issues.
The violence by VCK party workers was in apparent support of VCK leader Thol Thirumavalvan, who had gone on fast demanding a cease fire between the ‘Tamil Tigers’ terrorist group and the government in Sri Lanka. He received full support from a number of state parties, and had threatened an indefinite strike until a ceasefire is announced in Sri Lanka. In the end he called it off under the suggestion of the leader of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), another political party in Tamil.
The incident has put the state government under pressure, with Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi urging politicians not to use the issue to attack congress but instead to look at the issue of Sri Lankan Tamil citizens being killed. Karunanidhi also expressed dissatisfaction toward the Indian government’s reaction to the issue, and demanded the prompt visit of Foreign Affairs Minister Pranab Mukerji to Sri Lanka to resolve the issues.
