Protect interests of Tamils: Bharathiraja

MADURAI: Veteran film director Bharathiraja made a veiled reference to the Congress party while requesting to safeguard the interests of Tamils, apparently referring to the Mullaiperiyar Dam row brewing between Tamil Nadu and Kerala. He was speaking at a book release function here on Sunday.The director took a break from his shooting schedule at Theni to attend the function and started his speech with his favourite line, En Iniya Tamil Makkale.Receiving the first copy of the book, Thirumbi Parkiren: Manasatchi Pesukirathu, the autobiography of K S Govindarajan, State General Secretary of Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), from Union Minister G K Vasan, the director said, “I have not been to school or college. This land, the people and the language have educated me. You (Congress) have the power to protect the interests of the land, language and the people.” Recalling his association with the Congress party in his early days, Bharathiraja said he would have become a politician if he had not become an artist.INTUC State president G Kalan, TNCC president B Gnanadesikan, Tamil Nadu Youth Congress president Yuvaraja and MPs N S V Chitthan and E M Sudarshana Natchiappan were also present.