Date:22/09/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/09/22/stories/2005092217970600.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Tamil activists held

Special Correspondent

Government urged to keep promise on language

CHENNAI: The Tamil Protection Movement on Wednesday organised a "fill the jail" agitation here as part of a State-wide campaign to make Tamil the official language.

S. Ramadoss, founder of the Pattali Makkal Katchi; Thol. Thirumavalavan, general secretary of Dalit Panthers; N. Sethuraman, president of the All India Moovendar Munnetra Kazhagam; and Pazha Nedumaran, Tamizhar Desiya Iyakkam leader, courted arrest along with hundreds of their followers. They were released in the evening.

Before commencing the protest, they garlanded the statue of the Dravidar Kazhagam founder, E. V. Ramasamy, on Anna Salai near the Government Estate.

Dr. Ramadoss said the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Government should implement its promise to promote Tamil made during the 2001 Assembly elections. If Tamil (apart from English and Hindi) was made an official language at the Centre too the use of the language would increase.

Mr. Thirumavalavan said the stir was part of a series of agitations announced at the Tiruchi conference early this year. Dr. Sethuraman said the Movement, while striving for primacy to Tamil, stood for respect for other languages too.

About 27,000 persons courted arrest throughout the State, according to reports reaching the police here. All were released later.