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Naam Tamilar Katchi

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Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK)
LeaderSenthamizhan Seeman[1]
FounderS. P. Adithanar
Founded1958
HeadquartersHospital road, Senthil Nagar, Porur, Chennai.[2]
IdeologyTamil Nationalism
ColoursRed and yellow
ECI StatusRegistered[3]
Seats in 
0 / 234
Election symbol
இரட்டை மெழுகுவர்த்திகள்
Twin Candles
Website
naamtamilar.org

Naam Tamilar Katchi, (Tamil: நாம் தமிழர் ; trans. "We Tamils Party"; abbr. NTK) is a political party in the state of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, India. It is an extreme rightwing Tamil nationalist political party in india.

History

First Founding

Founder of Naam Tamilar Katchi, S. P. Adithanar.

In 1958, Adithanar founded the "We Tamils" (நாம் தமிழர் கட்சி) party with the platform of forming a sovereign Tamil state. The party's stand was more radical than the Dravida Nadu demand of Periyar E. V. Ramasamy's Dravidar Kazhagam. It wanted the creation of a homogeneous Tamil state incorporating Tamil speaking areas of India and Sri Lanka. The party's headquarters was named as Tamiḻaṉ Illam (lit. The Home of the Tamilian). In 1960, the party organised statewide protests for the secession of Madras and the establishment of a sovereign Tamil Nadu. The protests were marked by the burning of maps of India (with Tamil Nadu left out). Adithanar was arrested for organising them. The party along with M. P. Sivagnanam's Tamil Arasu Kazhagam was also involved in the movement to change the name of the state from Madras State to Tamil Nadu.[4]

Naam Tamilar Iyakkam

Following the closure of the Sri Lankan Civil War in which thousands of Tamil civilians were wiped out and over 140,000 remaining unaccounted for, several activists in Tamil Nadu led by noted film director and Periyarism activist[citation needed] Seeman, gathered in Madurai on 18 May 2009 to revive the party as a social outfit Naam Tamilar Iyakkam (We are Tamils Organization).[5]

Second Founding

Chief-coordinator of Naam Tamilar Katchi, Seeman.

On 18 May 2010, a year after the military subjugation of the Eelam Tamils and on the first anniversary of the organisation, the Naam Tamilar Iyakkam was converted into the Naam Tamilar Katchi, with Seeman the Chief Coordinator of the Party stating that the party would be an alternate political party different from the mainstream political outfits and also claiming that the establishment of an independent Tamil Eelam would be the moral goal of not just the party but Tamils in Tamil Nadu.[6]

During the formation of the party, Seeman added that "we are not founding the Naam Tamilar party, we are continuing with what S. P. Adithanar founded."[7]

Name and Emblem

The name of the party signifies "We are Tamils" as opposed to being labelled by any caste or religion.[6] The name also emphasizes the rule of Tamils in the Tamil homeland as opposed to the prevailing 'Dravidian' and 'Indian' parties that have contributed to the downfall of the Tamil people.[8]

The flag contains the emblem of the Tiger, which was also present on the flags of the Chola dynasty and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The event of introducing the flag took place at Thanjavur, the historic capital of the Cholas.[6]

Policy Position

Water-Sharing Dispute

The party has launched several agitations in demanding the state's share of water from upstream states, of the Kaveri and Mullaiperiyar rivers.[9][10] Seeman has also publicly criticized successive regimes' apathy on the issue as well as the illegal sand quarrying of the river beds in the state.[11][12]

NLC Situation

In 2011-2012, when the state of Tamil Nadu was in the midst of a severe power crisis leading to exorbitant power tariffs and failure of industries in the state,[13] the management of Neyveli Lignite Corporation, a central government held entity in Neyveli, Tamil Nadu was contemplating divesting shares to private players. This immediately sparked public unrest in the state, and most of its employees organizing a massive strike against the central government's decision. The corporation is accused of then allegedly manipulating its workers and indulging in acts to swiftly play down the issue.[14][15]

The Naam Tamilar Katchi was among the forefront in opposing the decision, with Seeman declaring that the problem facing strikers was the prejudice of non-Tamil management against Tamil workers. He also attacked NLC for investing in other Indian states while there was an acute power shortage in Tamil Nadu.[14][16]

Law and Order

Seeman has observed of the deteriorating law and order situation in the state during the Congress-DMK aliance.[17] Seeman had also condemned the alleged assault of a group of Lankan tourists in Chennai. Seeman said that the party abhors violence in any form, and cadres who violate the party's principles of conduct will not be tolerated.[18]

State of Refugees

Naam Tamilar Katchi has raised the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils who seek refuge in the country, and their prolonged persecution at the hands of both the state and central governments.[19]

Abolition of Death Penalty

Naam Tamilar Katchi has vocally supported the life-commutation and release of those convicted in the Rajiv Gandhi case. Seeman has advocated that the party's stand was not limited to the lives of the three Tamils but for the total abolition of the death penalty in India.[20] Naam Tamilar Katchi had also called for humanitarian release of prisoners languishing in jails for more than 10 years. The party also voiced its support towards closing down the special camps which, they alleged, had become torture camps.[21]

Retrieval of Katchatheevu

Seeman vowed to retrieve Kachatheevu by creating 50,000 special battalion forces and invading the island single-handedly within one day [22]

Elections

Manifesto and Declaration

Translation of the Naam Tamilar Katchi's Vision and Policy page[23]

1. Revival of Tamil, the foremost motive

2. Formation of an independent nation of Tamil Eelam, the only alternative for Eelam Tamils

3. Enforcement of Indian federal union set up, with greater rights to states and ethnic nations in the country.

4. Omnipresence of Tamil and eternal rule of Tamils in Tamil Nadu in a Democracy.

5. Blossoming of a collective and virtuous society.

6. Land reforms to assist landless people.

7. Encouragement of environment and people friendly scientific advancement and industrial growth.

8. Integration of Tamils worldwide for Tamil rights and harmony.

9. Economic progress aimed at improving the quality of the life of the common man.

10. Protection of Livelihood and Interests of labourers from all sections.

11. End to Casteist and Religious division and discrimination, and Propagation of Equal treatment for all Tamils

12. Enforcement of Female rights, a birthright.

13. Ubiquitous Learning and Use of Tamil language, like learning MBBS in Tamil.

14. Institutionalization of Tamil as the official language in the spheres of governance, worship, judiciary and service

15. Cultural revolution and revitalization of ancient Tamil traditions

16. Individual's right to Religion.

17. Administration of justice without political involvement and abolition of corruption.

18. Establishment of Women self help groups to advance their economic, political and social position.

19. Equitable and balanced distribution of Power and Material

20. Abolition of black money and exploitation by private firms and corporations.

21. People's court Formation.

22. Establishment of Basic Healthcare and access to all sections of the society

23. Forwarding the rights of Tamils in other states and Inter-state relations and goodwill

24. Cultural integration of Tamils worldwide.

25. Priority to ancient Tamil sports and martial arts such as Silambam, Kalari etc.


2011 Tamil Nadu Assembly Election

Though it did not contest in 2011 polls, the NTK spearheaded a large-scale campaign against the Congress Party in the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly election, 2011 for their alleged role in the genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka and various other anti-Tamil policies of the party.[24][25][26]

2016 Tamil Nadu Assembly Election

Affirming to its long-established standpoint, Naam Tamilar Katchi will contest on its own in all of the 234 constituencies in Tamil Nadu as well as those in the districts of Puducherry and Karaikal.[21][27] On 12 February 2016, all 234 Naam Tamilar Katchi candidates were introduced in Cuddalore on a stage by its leader Seeman. The party promote equal rights and has also included candidates with disabilities. It is the first party in the history of Tamil Nadu with a transgender candidate. On 2 March 2016, Seeman has introduced at a press meeting, that the twin candles is the election symbol of Naam Tamilar Katchi.[28] On 23 March 2016, Naam Tamilar Katchi published its election manifesto 2016.[29][30] Seeman openly challenged a CPM party member that he would score more votes than their PWF alliance in the 2016 state assembly elections failing which he vowed to dissolve his party and join the CPM.[31] The party scored less than the alliance overall and even less than NOTA.[32] Seeman's party lost everywhere with himself scoring 5th place in Cuddalore.[33]

References

  1. ^ "Naam Tamilar Katchi Candidate List" (pdf). Naam Tamilar Katchi. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  2. ^ "Naam Tamilar Katchi.pdf" (pdf). Election Commission of India. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  3. ^ "Naam Tamilar Katchi.pdf" (pdf). Election Commission of India. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  4. ^ Ramaswamy, Sumathy. Passions of the tongue: language devotion in Tamil India, 1891–1970. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-520-20805-6.
  5. ^ Gopal Ethiraj from Chennai (15 April 2010). "Seeman to convert his 'Naam Tamilar' into political party". Asian Tribune. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  6. ^ a b c "New party to be launched in Tamil Nadu with Leaping Tiger as its flag". TamilNet. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  7. ^ "ஆய்வுகள்" (in Tamil). Tamilkathir. 30 November 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  8. ^ "Seeman calls for vote bank to protect Tamils". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  9. ^ "Popular Tamil actor Seeman among 400 arrested following protests over Mullaperiyar". IBNLive. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  10. ^ "Declare Thanjavur district drought-hit: Seeman". The Hindu. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  11. ^ "Clean sweep". Frontline. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  12. ^ "Nallakannu, Seeman arrested near Srivaikuntam reservoir". The Hindu. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  13. ^ "Power Crisis in Tamil Nadu". livemint. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  14. ^ a b "India: The lessons of the NLC betrayal". World Socialist Website. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  15. ^ "NLC workers withdraw strike". Business standard. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  16. ^ "Ban on all sorts of stir in Cuddalore district". The Hindu. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  17. ^ "Mercenary menace up: Seeman". New Indian Express. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  18. ^ "Seeman condemns attacks on Lankan tourists". New Indian Express. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  19. ^ "TN: Eight Lankan refugees arrested". New Indian Express. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  20. ^ "'Land of Ahimsa should abolish death penalty'". New Indian Express. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
  21. ^ a b "Release persons incarcerated for over 10 years, says Seeman". The Hindu. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  22. ^ "Katchatheevu". Youtube.
  23. ^ "Naam Tamilar Katchi Policies". Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  24. ^ "NTK Neutral on Vaiko, to Back Jaya". Indian Express. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  25. ^ "Naam Tamilar Katchi to work for defeat of Cong in TN, IBN Live News". Ibnlive.in.com. 20 February 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  26. ^ "Seeman effect on Congress Party". TruthDive. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  27. ^ "Seeman to announce party candidates tomorrow". NewsWebIndia. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  28. ^ "Seeman gets the first recognition in politics". indiaglitz.com.
  29. ^ "My thoughts about Naam Tamilar Katchi election mainfesto". youtube.com.
  30. ^ "Naam Tamilar Seeman Releases His Election Manifesto". youtube.com.
  31. ^ "Seeman's challenge". youtube.com.
  32. ^ "2016 election results".
  33. ^ "Seeman's performance". youtube.com.
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