Chennai: Seeman, Velmurugan, Gowthaman, Thirumurugan Gandhi, Bharathiraja. These leaders, known for vociferously raising their voice over almost anything and everything that ‘affects the interest of Tamils’, have come under criticism for staying out of the scene when the delta region, the heartland of Tamilnadu, faced Cyclone Gaja that wreaked havoc last week.
“Where are these self-styled champions of Tamils? From college students to cinema artistes to corporates, everyone has been doing their bit to help the Gaja victims. But these leaders are nowhere to be seen. Nature has unmasked them and they stand exposed now. Their only aim is to create unrest when all is well and they vanish from the scene when something bad happens. People should understand the true colours of these so-called pro-Tamil warriors,” says P Seshiah, a right wing thinker and a retired teacher.
Sankar, part of an organisation that is involved in relief work in the delta districts, says, “During the past one week, we saw government officials, politicians, celebrities, NGOs, fan clubs and students doing their bit to help the victims. But we did not see leaders from Naam Tamizhar, Tamizhar Vazhvurimai Katchi, May 17 Iyakkam, etc. We wonder where they have all gone.”
A May 17 Movement member denies these claims strongly. “As soon as Gaja cyclone hit central Tamilnadu, we rushed to the affected places not just to help the victims, but also to prepare an in-depth report. It has been released by Thirumurugan Gandhi. We are collecting funds in the city and other places to reach out to the victims.”
A Naam Tamizhar member said they are doing a lot of relief work without publicity. Sources close to Gowthaman said his father passed away a few days ago and those in Bharathiraja camp said the director, along with his counterparts, Ameer and Vetrimaaran, visited the family of a farmer who committed suicide due to Gaja and offered financial aid.
Tamizhar Vazhvurimai Katchi circles said, “We are on the field and what is the need now to publicise our work?”
Palaniappan, a farmer near Mannargudi, said, “We know who is working and who is not. We are grateful to all those who are reaching out to us in this hour of crisis and I don’t want to comment anything more on this now.”