KARAIKAL UNION TERRITORY STRUGGLE GROUP
52, Church Street, Karaikal 609602, India: Tel +091-4368-224599
Hon. President N.Nandhivarman Chairman .K.Subramanian Vice-Chairman V.S.Nallusamy, General Secretary A.S.T.Ansari Babu Treasurer : S.Radhakrishnan ,Deputy Secretaries : R.Sundarraj, O.S.Uduman, C.Raja , Public Relations Officer: A.A.Rahman, Propaganda Secretary.K.Krishnakumar ,Youth Wing Secretary N.P.Kumanan, Deputy secretaries R.Ayyamperumal, A.Raja Mohammed, T.Dharpareswaran ,Agricultural Wing Secretary M.Sheikh Mohammed. Joint Secretary M.Singaravelu, Minority Wing Secretary S.George, Joint Secretary A.Ahamed Maraicar, Organizers: Karaikal North: S.M.Faried, Karaikal South M.I.Samsudeen, Kottucherry: Subha.Sureshrajan Nedungadu: M.Singaravelu, T.R.Pattinam; Karai Jinna, Neravy: T.K.S.M.Kanagasundaram
OPEN LETTER TO UNION CABINET AND TO LOKSABHA AND RAJYASABHA
Respected Leader Subject: Karaikal people reiterate their demand for Union Territory status to Karaikal, in case of Statehood is granted to Puducherry on lines of precedent laid out in Goa, Daman, Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli regarding
Media reports suggest that in this winter session a bill to make the Union Territory of Puducherry into a full-fledged State is likely to be introduced. You may be aware that Union Territory of Puducherry was never a contiguous area. During French rule it was knit together in spite of being enclaves separated by miles and miles. In Bengal too French had an enclave, which too would have remained with us, but fortunately Chandranagore merged with Bengal. The Union Territory of Puducherry comprises of four coastal regions viz- Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. Puducherry and Karaikal are situated on the East Coast in Tamil Nadu, Yanam in Andra Pradesh. Mahe is in the West Coast in Kerala.
Mahe which is 647 kms away from Puducherry covers an area of 9 Sq. kms with 36,000 inhabitants. Mahe is situated on the West Coast of the Indian Peninsula between 11 Degrees 42′ and 11 Degrees 43′ Northern Latitude, and between 75 Degrees 31′ and 75 Degrees 33′ Eastern Longitude, just between Badagara and Thalassery, 58 kilometers from Kozhikode, 24 kilometers from Kannur in Kerela State, Mahe with just 9 square kilometers and speaks Malayalam is ruled by main enclave Puducherry. It should be noted that closer to Mahe, the Union Territory of Lakshadeep with a population 60595 of Malayalam speaking people exists. In the case of Puducherry main enclave becoming state Mahe has three options: 1]. To remain with Puducherry or 2] to have separate Union Territory Status for Mahe or 3] to join with Union Territory of Lakshadeep. It has to be decided by a referendum as per the wishes of people of Mahe.
Yanam is one of the regions in the Union Territory of Puducherry. which is 870 Kms away from headquarters. It is situated on the East Coast of the Indian Peninsula at 16 degrees 42′ northern latitude, and between 82 degree 11’ Eastern longitudes bounded on all sides by the East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh State. The town of Yanam lies on the spot where the River Coringa (Atreya) branches off from Gauthami into two parts. The entire region, consisting of Yanam town and six villages is treated as Municipality for purposes of local administration. Yenam covers an area of 30.0 Square kilometers has a population of 31,362 according to the 2001 census. The demand for statehood to UT of Puducherry is vehemently opposed by Yenam’s sole legislator who is in Cabinet of the Union Territory. Telugu media reports that this Minister who had taken oath under Constitution of India is so much upset with Puducherry becoming statehood collected 50000 signatures including children and went to France to submit a memorandum to French government unmindful of protocol or constitutional responsibility. This appeal to erstwhile colonial rulers exhibits his and Yenam people’s anger against Statehood for Puducherry. Whatever future status Yenam wants can be determined by a referendum.
Whatever valid reasons the main enclave Puducherry advances to obtain statehood, is in no way endorsed by Karaikal enclave. Karaikal region is far away from main enclave by 150 kms. It has an area of 161 sq. km. and population of 1, 70,640 as per the 2001 census.Karaikal region is made up of the Communes of Karaikal, Kottuchcheri, Nedungadu, Tirunallar, Niravi and Tirumalarajanpattinam. This region since its merger with Indian Union and since it became a constituent of the Union Territory of Puducherry had received only step motherly treatment from the main enclave of Puducherry. Regional imbalances and continued neglect for five decades led to the birth of separate Union Territory status for Karaikal. Such grievances had even broken the State of Bihar into two states of Bihar and Jharkand. Hence it is needless to tell enlightened and eminent personality like you that to address the issue of regional resentment territories could be granted separate status. Now that Union Territory of Puducherry in the craze to have more powers for political masters has advanced a demand for elevating the UT into a State. To seek your support to de-link the enclave of Karaikal from the Statehood status, and to get the Union Governments nod for conferring Union Territory status to Karaikal enclave, a contiguous region, we are mailing this appeal to you.
Let us all look at Goa precedent. Goa, a tiny emerald land on the west coast of India, the 25th State in the Union of States of India, was liberated from Portuguese rule in 1961. It was part of Union territory of Goa, Daman & Diu till 30 May 1987 when it was carved out to form a separate State. At that time Daman, Diu and Dadra Nagarhaveli which has now a population of 1, 58,204 in 112 square kilometers were left to remain as separate Union Territory. Like that we demand that Karaikal be declared as Separate Union Territory while Statehood is conferred on Puducherry in this winter session of Parliament or later. Precedent exists. Other enclaves too can be made separate Union Territories if they seek or wish. But we from Karaikal region are clear in our goal. Yes we want Separate Union Territory Status for Karaikal. Enough with 5 decades of neglect and backwardness thrust on us.
The number of union territories is dwindling with former union territories becoming states; hence there is historical necessity to create more number of Union Territories to keep the purpose of the Act alive. It is needless to state that if major state rebels against Union and civil war erupt, Union Territories were security sanctuaries and spring board for security forces to regain and restore the integrity of India. With this forethought in mind, Union Territories Act was envisaged. To give life to this Act, we urge Karaikal be de-linked from Puducherry State and kept as separate Union Territory directly ruled by our President.
With Regards Yours sincerely N.Nandhivarman K.Subramanian A.S.T.Ansari Babu Hon.President Chairman Gen.Secretary V.S.Nallusamy S.Radhakrishnan R.Sundarraj Vice Chairman Treasurer Deputy Secretary
DRAVIDA PERAVAI 