'Centre should intervene and remove cartoon from NCERT textbook'

Dalit outfit Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi on Sunday demanded that the Centre intervene immediately and ensure removal of a cartoon depicting in poor light the 1965 antiHindi agitation by Tamils in the 12th standard political science book of NCERT.

"The cartoon has denigrated the agitation and has hurt the sentiments of Tamils and hence should be scrapped without delay," VCK leader Thol Tirumavalavan told reporters in Puducherry.

Key UPA ally DMK had on Saturday demanded its removal with party president M Karunanidhi saying the cartoon could infuriate Tamils.

MDMK's Vaiko and Dravidar Kazhagam leader K Veeramani have also condemned the cartoon and demanded its removal.

On the June 12 Pudukottai bypoll in Tamil Nadu, Tirumavalavan said the Election Commission should take steps to ensure a free poll as people are apprehensive the EC is 'biased' towards the ruling party.

He also said VCK would stage a demonstration in Chennai on June 13 to protest against the clause in the forms on self assessment of bank officials to highlight their role in propagation of Hindi language.

This clause would be injurious to officers in Tamil Nadu and would only create a situation for promotion only on the basis of their role in propagating Hindi language, he said.

He urged UPA to field a Dalit Christian candidate for the coming presidential poll and added that his party would however support the candidate finalized by UPA.