Would rename country United States of India: MDMK manifesto

Chennai, March 22 (IANS) The MDMK has promised in its manifesto released Saturday that it would rename the country as the United States of India if it takes part in government formation after the Lok Sabha polls.

The party, led by firebrand Tamil leader Vaiko, also said it would lift the ban on Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

According to the MDMK, the Indian Constitution when it was formed promised a federal governance structure.

Those who initially claimed "unity in diversity" gradually began to concentrate power in the central government, the party said.

In order to strengthen the country's unity, the Indian Constitution should be revisited and the country be renamed as United States of India, and the party said it would strive for that.

The party also demanded the centre to transfer back to the states the powers relating to education and the residuary powers listed in the Constitution should be fully given to the states.

The party said it would work for holding of a referendum on creation of Eelam in Sri Lanka for Lankan Tamils. According to MDMK, the referendum should be held in places where Lankan Tamils live.

The party has assured appointment of Tamils as ambassadors in nations having a sizeable Tamil population.

The party has promised reservation in the private sector, inter-linking of rivers, setting up of Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee to oversee sharing of Cauvery waters between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

The party said it would ban death penalty.

The MDMK also promised to work to force India to take severe action against Sri Lanka if it continues to attack Indian fishermen and also retrieve Katchatheevu -- an islet in Palk Strait -- from Sri Lanka.

The party also promised declaration of fishing community as scheduled tribe, provide pension for fishermen and prevent plunder of beach sand minerals.

On the nuclear power, MDMK said it would prevent additional units at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu and also work for closure of the first two units there.

The party has also opposed field trials of genetically modified crops, methane exploration project in Thanjavur, the natural gas pipeline project by GAIL in Tamil Nadu.

With the difficulties faced by people in the south in approaching the Supreme Court in New Delhi, the MDMK has promised for bring a bench of the apex court here.

To the people of Puducherry, the MDMK has promised statehood. Citing that the Union Territory got its freedom from the French Nov 1, 1956, the MDMK assured that steps will the taken to declare that day as Puducherry's Independence Day.