Parties Honour Immanuel Sekaran’s Memory in Paramakudi

RAMESWARAM: Family members, party leaders, community leaders and the public paid their tribute to Immanuel Sekaran at his memorial in Paramakudi, Ramanathapuram district, on the occasion of his 69th death anniversary Friday.

His memorial, manimandapam, and statue were decorated with colourful flowers.

His daughter Sundari Prabha Rani and Immanuel Sekaran’s family members laid a wreath at the memorial and paid their respects. Following this, the public from his native village, Sellur, paid their respects.

On behalf of the Tamil Nadu government, minister for energy and law C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar; minister for health, medical education and family welfare, Dr. K.G. Arunraj; minister for natural resources T.K. Prabhu; MSME minister P. Mathan Raja; and minister for environment and climate change V.K. Rajeev paid their respects by garlanding his statue.

Ramanathapuram Collector Sivaguru Prabhakaran, Bhavanisagar MLA V.P. Tamilselvi, Krishnarayapuram MLA M. Sathya, Periyakulam MLA G. Sabari Iyngaran, Manamadurai MLA D. Ilangovan, Srivilliputhur MLA A. Karthik, Nilakottai MLA R. Aiyanar, Madurai East MLA Karthikeyan, Madurai South MLA Gopison, Madurai Cholavandhan MLA Karuppiah also paid their tributes.

While Congress members were led by their state president Manickam Tagore, Opposition leader of the DMK, Udhayanidhi Stalin, former ministers Thangam Thennarasu, Rajakannappan, district secretary Katharbatcha Muthuramalingam and administrators also paid homage.

For the AIADMK, former ministers R.B. Udhayakumar, Manikandan, Rajalakshmi, district secretary M.A. Muniyasamy, former MLA Muthaiah, and other AIADMK executives paid their respects.

Similarly, AMMK general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran, minister Vanni Arasu and executives of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and members of various political parties and organisations, including the BJP and Naam Tamilar Katchi also paid their respects at the memorial.

Later, speaking to reporters, Udhayanidhi Stalin said: “The struggles waged by martyr Immanuel Sekaranar against caste discrimination and atrocities, and for equal rights, education and economic liberation of the oppressed people will remain in history forever.”

He recalled that in order to honour his memory and his irreplaceable sacrifice, a manimandapam with a bronze statue was built and inaugurated last year under the leadership of party president M.K. Stalin.

Criticising the government, former minister Udhayakumar said it was ridiculous that a government that cannot waive crop loans of farmers in cooperative banks wants to set up a new Secretariat near the Chief Minister’s residence. He alleged that the TVK government does not know how to handle treasury funds.

T.T.V. Dhinakaran charged that the government was being run by horse-trading. A candidate who won in the AIADMK has gone to the ruling party through horse-trading and then again been fielded in the by-election on behalf of the TVK, he pointed out.

His view was that there are currently several members of the Assembly who do not know how to speak Tamil properly. No one, including Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, can speak Tamil properly, he criticised.

Minister Vanni Arasu said the DMK government built a memorial for Immanuel Sekaran due to the repeated demands of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Nadu.

He said a separate law will be enacted soon for honour killings and said the inclusion of converted Muslims and Christians in the Prevention of Atrocities Act will be brought to the attention of the Central government and action will be taken soon.

Naam Tamilar Katchi chief coordinator Seeman strongly condemned the incident of a Sri Lankan Tamil refugee being beaten with a shoe at the Sri Lankan Tamil Rehabilitation Camp in Mandapam for asking for leave. A petition will be submitted tomorrow on behalf of Naam Tamilar Katchi, demanding that the Collector take immediate action against the sub-collector, he said.

Action should be taken against the official who attacked the refugee, as there is no one to give voice to Eelam Tamils, who are continuously being oppressed in Tamil Nadu, he added.

Seeman asked why a new secretariat should be built when the existing one was in good condition.