The first conference of the recently revived TESO (Tamil Eelam Supporter’ Organisation) will be held here on August 12, DMK chief M Karunanidhi said here Saturday.
“The TESO conference will be held at the YMCA grounds on August 12,” he told reporters. He had recently revived the defunct organisation amid some controversy over one of its founding members, Pazha Nedumaran, being a prominent Eelam activist. Mr Karunanidhi said Mr Nedumaran was merely trying to promote his own politics.
According to DMK chief, TESO conference was originally planned in Villupuram in the first week of August, but the place and venue were rescheduled to accommodate more visitors, including some from foreign countries.
Reacting to chief minister J. Jayalalithaa’s criticism that he had done precious little in halting the recent IAF training of Sri Lankan airmen, Karunanidhi said her remarks were “in bad taste”.
He recalled that during his reign, he got the defence ministry to shift out some Lankan airmen undergoing training in the Tambaram IAF station.
She had on Friday lambasted Karunanidhi on this issue, saying that despite being a partner in the UPA-II, he was not assertive enough in getting Delhi to help the Lankan Tamil cause.
He had used his coercive skills with the Centre “only when he or his family members were affected”, she said.