DMK allies unimpressed by signature campaign

Leaders of the Secular Progressive Alliance admitted privately that they should have come up with something bigger than a signature campaign given the Centre’s reluctance to even pay heed to high-decibel students agitations even in the national capital.

“After they boycotted the meeting in New Delhi, we expected alliance leader DMK to come with something big like holding an agitation in Delhi to draw nationwide attention. We were hopeful that they would suggest something very big to overshadow their boycott, which raised doubts about their commitment on the issue. But DMK had only proposed signature campaign,” said a leader of a regional party.

“Some criticism arose after they boycotted the meeting chaired by Sonia Gandhi. There were talks of the third largest party in the Parliament prioritizing political difference with an ally over a nationally significant issue like CAA and NPR. Indeed, there was some expectation over what would DMK do to reiterate its commitment on the issue,” said a leader of party who did not wish to be named reasoned.

However, the leader quickly added, “We have organized a rally and many demonstrations of Opposition parties on the issue in Chennai already. We have spoken in the Parliament. That said, what good would a demonstration in Delhi do? Whether it is a signature campaign or agitation or hartal, this government will not bother. It will go ahead with the NPR and CAA. We should not be discouraged by the indifference of the BJP regime. We should continue our movement against it. Of course, some action in the national capital would have fetched more attention and created some pressure.”