Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president Thol. Thirumavalavan on Thursday expressed serious concern over the lack of powers of the Election Commission of India (ECI) to curb the atrocities unleashed by the ruling party in the State.
Talking to reporters after releasing the party’s election manifesto, he said that the ECI' efforts were aimed at the conduct of elections alone. “The ECI had no teeth to prevent the atrocities of the ruling party although the Commission had limited powers to seize cash carried by the public and traders,” he said.
The attacks by the Sri Lankan navy on Tamil Nadu fishermen had been continuing because of the tacit support extended by both the Central and State Governments, he said adding that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was totally against the welfare of Tamils.
He called upon the Centre to take immediate steps to rescue fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan navy and to retrieve Katchatheevu. Villupuram Member of Parliament D. Ravikumar was also present.
Manifesto highlights
The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) on Thursday said that it would strive for the reformation of the Centre-State relations and also to strengthen the principles of federalism by nurturing State autonomy.
In its Assembly election manifesto, released by party president Thol. Thirumavalavan, the party also called upon the Centre to takeover the debt burden of the State.
The manifesto also demanded repealing the maritime related laws and to protect the interest of Tamil Nadu fishermen who have been facing attacks regularly at the hands of the Sri Lankan navy.
The party demanded that education should be made a State subject by de-linking it from the concurrent list to give more autonomy to the States.
The manifesto also proposed a stringent law against the rising incidents of caste killings. It demanded that the provisions of the SC/ST Law are implemented in true letter and spirit.
