The ruling DMK can’t make up its mind on initiating action against ally Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) for praising the banned LTTE.

On Friday night, at a crowded public meeting in Chennai organised with the support of police, VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan demanded the lifting of the ban on the LTTE and urging the international community to recognise the outfit as “a democratic movement fighting for the liberation of Tamils in Sri Lanka”.

The LTTE is accused of killing Rajiv Gandhi and is banned in the country.

The meeting which lasted four hours until midnight saw several leaders praise the LTTE as “the only beacon of hope” for the ‘Eelam Tamils’ scattered across the world as refugees after suffering years of oppression in the hands of “a racist Sinhala regime”.

All sanctions against the LTTE should be lifted by the international community and India must lift the ban on the organisation, said a resolution adopted by the VCK.

While the VCK called it a “campaign for asserting the right of free expression”, it was only to couch the rabid pro-LTTE rhetoric that formed the central theme of the meeting.

Accused with allowing pro-Tiger sentiments to flow freely, an embarrassed city police, which had made no effort to stop speakers praising the LTTE, is toying with the idea of seeking ‘legal advice’ on the issue. Asked if he intended to take action against the VCK speakers, including its leader, Chennai Commissioner of Police Nanjil Kumaran said: “We are referring the issue to the legal department. We will take action depending on their advice.”

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