Tiger whimpers in freebie fest: Report

Chennai: Barely 18 months ago, a pro-Tamil Tiger roar echoed on poll platforms across the state as the war in Sri Lanka and the plight of Tamil minorities dominated the agenda in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls. Even AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa, avowedly anti-LTTE in her stand, focused on the government’s inability to protect Tamil refugees.

The loudest pro-Tiger voice of Tamil Nadu, Vaiko, is off the electoral platform. And the AIADMK, routed in three successive polls, appears to have realized that in peace-loving Tamil Nadu, the Lanka factor cannot win polls.

But why have pro-Tiger guns fallen silent? The pro-LTTE fringe groups which fielded candidates against Congress leaders including home minister P Chidambaram in the last parliamentary elections and backed the AIADMK appear to have quietly retired to their political caverns. Barring actor-director Seeman, who is aggressively campaigning against Congress in 63 constituencies, most prominent LTTE supporters have chosen to watch the show from the sidelines.

In an election fought over inflation, freebies and scams, the Eelam Tamil issue is clearly not seen as a vote-grabber, although the poll manifestoes of both DMK and AIADMK still pledge “continued” support for Sri Lankan Tamils. Says actor Seeman, who is campaigning against Congress in Rameswaram, “In an election which is held to determine the destiny of Tamils, it is a tragic irony that none of the political parties are talking about the sufferings of Eelam Tamils.” In the last parliamentary elections, the AIADMK and DMK raised the Eelam issue for the sake of votes, “but they had no love for Tamils”, he charges.

Chennai-based lawyer Rajiv Gandhi who polled over 4,000 votes in Sivaganga constituency is not contesting this time. He is campaigning against the Congress along with Seeman. But he too rues that leading political parties have forgotten the Eelam issue. Even the more fierce LTTE supporters have been low on volume. For instance, Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam leader, K Ramakrishnan, who was detained under National Security Act for an alleged attack on an Army convoy on the eve of the 2009 parliamentary elections, is “boycotting” the polls.

And so have his belligerent party youth. “We have decided to boycott the elections. We are not backing any party now. For, the AIADMK too may join the Congress after the polls. She has already announced that she is willing to align with the Congress,” he says.

During the last parliamentary polls, the Eelam conflict was headed for a tragic climax, and defeating the Congress was crucial to save the Sri Lankan Tamils, say LTTE supporters. “Now, the Eelam Tamils seem fatigued and resigned to their fate,” admits Ramakrishnan. And the pro-LTTE roar has descended into a feeble whine. (Times of India)