For DMK, Its a question of survival: MP

TIRUCHY: Amid visibly grim and gloomy DMK functionaries, who reflected the mood of a besieged camp, party propaganda secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Tiruchy N Siva candidly said, “It is a question of survival for the party now, and every cadre should fight like a soldier to save the party.”Addressing party functionaries at the district executive committee meeting here on Tuesday, Siva said, “Battle clouds have gathered around us. The need to fight for survival has been thrust on us and it is time the workers respond to the great challenge.”“By foisting numerous cases against party functionaries and leaders, the AIADMK government has declared a psychological war with the intention of demoralising DMK workers and annihilating the party,” he said.Dismissing feeble remarks by a few DMK functionaries on recapturing power, Siva said, “This is not the time to talk about power since it is a question of survival for the party now.”Top party leaders were being targeted by the AIADMK government and one senior leader, Veerapandi S Arumugam, was in police custody, while one of the district secretaries in Madurai had been arrested, he said.“As per a government undertaking in court, our district secretary K N Nehru will not be arrested till July 27. We do not know what will happen after that. We should hope for the best and be prepared for the worst. In case, the worst thing happens, each one of you should be ready to function as the district secretary,” he said, adding to the palpable tension.Sensing the despondent and depressed atmosphere, Siva, a student leader of the DMK during the Emergency, recalled how party chief M Karunanidhi ran the party from prison.But, the functionaries watched silently even as  he referred to the party’s glorious past during which its cadre had the fighting spirit to face the “onslaught of Indira Gandhi’s might”.