MDMK observes fast over Kongu Nadu controversy in Tamil Nadu

Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) cadre, led by State Youth Wing Secretary V. Eswaran, observed a fast at Eachanari, on Saturday against the Central Government’s reported move to carve out Western Tamil Nadu into a separate State or Union Territory. According to a report in Hindu, the fast was organised after a media organisation reported on this move, Mr. Eswaran said and wanted the government to clarify its stand on the issue. When this was seen along with the Government identifying Union Minister of State for Fisheries L. Murugan as a person from “Kongu Nadu”, at the time of his swearing in, it only strengthened the suspicion that something was in the offing. The Government should deny the report in order to remove the suspicion in people’s mind, Mr. Eswaran said.

“Has there been any demand from people or political parties for a separate Kongu Nadu from this region, like the demand or protest held ahead of the formation of Telangana,” he asked. The Centre should not impose its will on the people, he said. “If at all there is any move to bifurcate the State, it should be based on people’s demand,” the MDMK leader said. For the unversed, the mention of non-existent 'Kongu Naadu' in Tamil Nadu as the place from where the newly sworn in Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Information Broadcasting L. Murugan hails, has sparked speculations including creation of a new union territory. A Tamil daily speculated on central government's plans to carve out the western belt in Tamil Nadu as a separate union territory where the BJP has considerable support base. The central government had sent out small sketch of all the new ministers where in for L, Murugan, who was sworn in on July 7, it was mentioned. The words Kongu Naadu has baffled many in the state including the BJP leaders. "There is no place in the state called Kongu Naadu. Further the word Naadu means country. The central government could have mentioned as Kongu Region," K.C. Palanisamy, a former MP and a former MLA told IANS.