Rahul is keen on secular front inclusive of DMK in TN, VCK leader says

CHENNAI: DMK might be opposed to an alliance with Congress, but Rahul Gandhi seems to be keen to put together a secular front inclusive of its erstwhile partner. Gandhi is said to have conveyed as much to VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan on Wednesday during a 45-minute interaction in Delhi. The VCK leader met Rahul to present a memorandum to him on the Sri Lanka issue. Gandhi reportedly told the VCK leader that his party was prepared to bring together secular parties against the BJP-led alliance in Tamil Nadu, but DMK had not shown an interest. VCK has been a part of the DMK alliance for more than five years.

When contacted Thirumavalavan said he had discussed the Sri Lankan Tamils welfare, attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Lankan navy and dalit issues with Gandhi. "Though we have differences with Congress on a few issues, including Sri Lankan Tamil and fishermen issues, we gave unconditional support for the past five years. I told Rahul we should not give space for Hindutva groups to form the government at the Centre," Thirumavalavan told TOI. "When I agreed with him that secular forces should be united, Rahul agreed. He was open to the idea of a secular front," he added.

DMK chief M Karunanidhi on Thursday welcomed the announcement of Sonia Gandhi on reservation. "The announcement by Mrs Gandhi on reservation is welcome," Karunanidhi said. DMK has been opposing the creamy layer concept based on economic criteria in civil services exams conducted by UPSC, he said. If the Centre was firm on MoS for parliamentary affairs Rajiv Shukla's statement in Parliament that it was not considering any proposal to provide reservation based on economic criteria, "then I wish to reiterate our long-pending demand that the creamy layer concept should be removed", he said.