On a depressing day, the only relief that DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi could manage was a communication from the ministry of external affairs saying there was no objection to holding the conference with the title of “Eelam Tamil Rights Protection Conf-erence”. But the MEA said the Teso organisers “are advised to ensure that the conference does not issue any declaration that calls into question the sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of any foreign co-untry with whom India has diplomatic relations”.
The Centre had earlier said that the word “Eelam” should not be used, as that is the name given by the Sri Lankan Tamils to the independent Tamil nation they dream of. But Karunanidhi on Friday had retorted that none could prevent Teso from using the word “Eelam”.
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Will shift meet venue if denied permit: karuna
age Correspondent
Chennai, Aug. 11
DMK president M. Karunanidhi said he would shift the Teso conference to his party headquarters if he fails in getting judicial intervention against the city police commissioner’s denial of permission to hold it at the YMCA grou-nd in Royapettah Sunday.
In a statement climaxing the day-long high drama, he said efforts were being made to get the Madras high court to vacate the police ban on the conference at YMCA ground, but if they fail, the conference would be held at 4 pm at the Kalaignar Arangam in DMK headquarters, Anna Arivalayam. The meet would adopt resolutions on protecting the lives and livelihoods of Eelam Ta-mils. These resolutions would be drafted by leaders meeting at Accord Metropolitan hotel.