CHENNAI: MDMK chief
Vaiko on Sunday replied to a notice issued by the Election Commission for allegedly invoking caste sentiments during an election campaign in Ariyalur district of Tamil Nadu on April 23.
A notice issued by the EC on May 14 quoted Vaiko’s statement during the campaign: “When [VCK leader] Thol Thirumavalavan and I were carrying the body [anti-liquor activist] Sasi Perumal, who was a vanniyar, a caste clash engineered by selfish people was erupted. As many as 20 Tamils were tortured, out of them 12 were vanniyars and six belonged to Scheduled Castes. Only MDMK and VCK fought for them. DMK treasurer M K Stalin and his party did not fight for him. Neither did PMK leaders S Ramadoss and Anbumani Ramadoss. DMK and PMK did not intervene because the people of a particular caste were involved.”
The EC said the Vaiko’s statement violated the provisions of the model code of conduct in force in the state.
“We call upon you to explain by 3pm on May 15 as to why further action should not be taken against you for aforesaid violation. If no reply is received within the prescribed time limit, it will be presumed that you have nothing to say and the commission will proceed to take appropriate action without making any further reference to you,” said the noticed issued by Election Commission secretary Malay Mallick.
Details of Vaiko’s reply were not known. This is the second time Vaiko has replied to the EC since the campaign began. Earlier, he replied to a notice issued by the EC on a personal reference he had made about DMK chief M Karunanidhi.