Over 1500 cadre from the various groups that are part of the DMK-led Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO) took part in a demonstration near Valluvar Kottam on Tuesday morning.
The demonstration was aimed at pressuring the Indian government to support the US-led resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) against the Sri Lankan government for war crimes and human rights abuses in the final phases of the civil war in the island nation.
Leaders and cadre of the DMK, DK, VCK and other groups who took part in the demonstration were detained by police personnel when they attempted to march towards the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission on Sterling Road in Nungambakkam.
DMK heir-apparent MK Stalin, DK president Veeramani, VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan and leaders like Suba Veerapandian and Saruguna Pandian were detained along with cadre at the Rajarathinam Stadium at Egmore, and were let go at 5 pm.
During the demonstration, they demanded that India do all in its power to strengthen the UNHRC resolution and to ensure that those responsible for war crimes were brought to book. “I urge the Centre to take a leaf out of the book of its own past leaders like (Jawaharlal) Nehru and Indira Gandhi and take a strong stance against the Sri Lankan government on the human rights front,” said Stalin, before being taken away by the police.
The demonstration wreaked havoc on rush hour traffic in the usually bustling area. Traffic was affected as far as Nandanam, with vehicles coming to a dead standstill on arterial roads in Kodambakkam, T Nagar and Nungambakkam.
Motorists stuck in traffic on the way to work expressed irritation over the fact that they had to endure the traffic jams for two days on the trot over the issue. “We understand that some people are emotional about politics in Sri Lanka. But that is no reason for them to block traffic during the morning rush hour,” said Clement Joseph, who works in a financial services firm in Nungambakkam.
“I have been standing at the same spot for half an hour now. Why can’t these people hold these agitations past noon? Are they worried about their complexions?” he said.
