5 months ago
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His zest for beingness is matched lone by his penchant for hitting the streets. MDMK wide caput Vaiko acceptable retired connected yet different yatra from Tiruchi connected Friday. This time, for the origin of communal harmony and to sensitise youths against cause abuse.
The 11-day “samathuva nadaipayanam” from Tiruchi volition culminate successful Madurai connected January 12. This is the 11th yatra successful the octogenarian’s agelong governmental career.
As a DMK functionary then, Mr. Vaiko had accompanied erstwhile Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi successful his march from Madurai to Tiruchendur demanding justness for the decease of a temple official, successful 1982.
Perhaps taking the cue, Mr. Vaiko went connected a yatra from Thenthiruperai to Tirunelveli successful 1986 seeking the betterment of the jewellery stolen from the Magaranedunkuzhainathar Temple.
In 1994, helium undertook a padayatra from Kanniyakumari to Chennai aft launching the MDMK and followed it with different successful 1996 from Poompuhar to Kallanai connected the Cauvery issue. The adjacent year, helium marched to Thoothukudi from Srivaikuntam against the alleged contamination caused by the Sterlite plant.
Mr. Vaiko undertook six much marches since 2004 pressing for assorted different issues specified arsenic inter-linking of confederate rivers, Mulla Periyar dam contented and full Prohibition. His erstwhile yatra was successful 2018 from Madurai to Kambam against the neutrino project.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who flagged of his latest yatra successful Tiruchi connected Friday, expressed admiration for the youthful zest of Mr. Vaiko. “His stamina and determination makes maine wonderment whether helium is 82 oregon 28,” Mr. Stalin quipped earlier advising the seasoned person to instrumentality attraction of his wellness during the yatra and debar specified ventures successful future.
Leaders of allies specified arsenic the VCK, the IUML and the MNM, too the Dravidar Kazhagam, were unanimous successful their appreciation of Mr. Vaiko’s zeal successful covering astir 6,000 km connected foot.
Conspicuous absence
However, leaders of the Congress, a cardinal spouse successful the alliance, were conspicuous by their lack astatine the event. Although TNCC president K. Selvaperunthagai was said to beryllium among the invitees, helium did not crook up. Local Congress functionaries excessively did not be the event.
When contacted, L. Rex, Tiruchi Urban District Congress president, said helium and different enactment members decided to enactment distant arsenic the invitation for the yatra inaugural reportedly carried a photograph of V. Prabhakaran, precocious person of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
“I was lone invited implicit the telephone by the MDMK territory caput and did not get a carnal invite. However, I saw a photograph of Prabhakaran connected the invitation successful a quality study successful a Tamil regular this morning. This is unacceptable to america and hence we decided to enactment away,” helium said.
However, helium maintained that though regrettable, the incidental would not person immoderate interaction connected the alliance.
Nevertheless, fixed the LTTE’s engagement successful the assassination of erstwhile Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, the depiction of Prabhakaran successful the invitation had seemingly ruffled feathers successful the Congress.
