The many yatras of Vaiko

His zest for life is matched only by his penchant for hitting the streets. MDMK general secretary Vaiko set out on yet another yatra from Tiruchi on Friday. This time, for the cause of communal harmony and to sensitise youths against drug abuse.

The 11-day “samathuva nadaipayanam” from Tiruchi will culminate in Madurai on January 12. This is the 11th yatra in the octogenarian’s long political career.

As a DMK functionary then, Mr. Vaiko had accompanied former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi in his march from Madurai to Tiruchendur demanding justice for the death of a temple official, in 1982.

Perhaps taking the cue, Mr. Vaiko went on a yatra from Thenthiruperai to Tirunelveli in 1986 seeking the recovery of the jewellery stolen from the Magaranedunkuzhainathar Temple.

In 1994, he undertook a padayatra from Kanniyakumari to Chennai after launching the MDMK and followed it with another in 1996 from Poompuhar to Kallanai on the Cauvery issue. The next year, he marched to Thoothukudi from Srivaikuntam against the alleged pollution caused by the Sterlite plant.

Mr. Vaiko undertook six more marches since 2004 pressing for various other issues such as inter-linking of southern rivers, Mulla Periyar dam issue and total Prohibition. His previous yatra was in 2018 from Madurai to Kambam against the neutrino project.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who flagged of his latest yatra in Tiruchi on Friday, expressed admiration for the youthful zest of Mr. Vaiko. “His stamina and determination makes me wonder whether he is 82 or 28,” Mr. Stalin quipped before advising the veteran leader to take care of his health during the yatra and avoid such ventures in future.

Leaders of allies such as the VCK, the IUML and the MNM, besides the Dravidar Kazhagam, were unanimous in their appreciation of Mr. Vaiko’s zeal in covering about 6,000 km on foot.

Conspicuous absence

However, leaders of the Congress, a key partner in the alliance, were conspicuous by their absence at the event. Although TNCC president K. Selvaperunthagai was said to be among the invitees, he did not turn up. Local Congress functionaries too did not attend the event.

When contacted, L. Rex, Tiruchi Urban District Congress president, said he and other party members decided to stay away as the invitation for the yatra inaugural reportedly carried a photo of V. Prabhakaran, late leader of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

“I was only invited over the phone by the MDMK district secretary and did not get a physical invite. However, I saw a photo of Prabhakaran on the invite in a news report in a Tamil daily this morning. This is unacceptable to us and hence we decided to stay away,” he said.

However, he maintained that though regrettable, the incident would not have any impact on the alliance.

Nevertheless, given the LTTE’s involvement in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, the depiction of Prabhakaran in the invite had apparently ruffled feathers in the Congress.