Chennai, Aug 17:
Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) coordinator Seeman on Sunday condemned the killing of three Tamils by Karnataka forest officials during an alleged anti-poaching operation, questioned the circumstances surrounding the incident and demanded action against those responsible.
Speaking at a meeting at a private hotel in Guindy, Seeman also strongly opposed the Tamil Nadu government’s proposed eviction of residents from the Manjolai and Meghamalai areas, arguing that people who had lived there for decades could not suddenly be branded as encroachers.
Questioning the timing of the move, he asked why no action had been taken for several decades if the residents were indeed illegal occupants. He said the eviction of thousands of people would severely affect their livelihoods and questioned the use of the term “encroachers” in the reply affidavit filed by the TVK government before the court.
Seeman urged the State government to review and withdraw the proposed eviction plans for Manjolai and Meghamalai, saying the authorities should consider the long-standing ties of the residents to the region before taking any action.
Referring to other issues, the NTK leader expressed concern over allegations that the Vaigai River was increasingly becoming a sewage canal and called on political leaders to give greater attention to people’s livelihoods and environmental concerns.
He also condemned the alleged circulation of drugs among schoolchildren and claimed that the law and order situation in Tamil Nadu had deteriorated, urging the government to take effective measures to address the issue.