Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katch (ITAK) leader S Shritharan has vowed to press ahead with his brand of Tamil nationalist politics, as the Jaffna District Court issued an injunction order preventing the ITAK from holding its general convention on the 19th of this month.
In a seemingly factional move, Peter Ilancheliyan a member of ITAK Mullaitivu, has filed a case against the ITAK national convention to which the court has issued an interim injunction. Furthermore, the Trincomalee District Court has also barred the convention from being conducted over a case being filed at the Trincomalee District Court.
Speaking to the Tamil Guardian on the court injunction, Shritharan said "I'm ready to face any court case and I will continue my politics in Tamil nationalism. No one can stop me!" He said he is willing to overcome those obstacles in the best interest of the people.
“I am ready to face any court case. We will overcome all of these obstacles and conspiracies that are being put against us with the help of our people. These cases are being filed to threaten me and my party, but we are not afraid of these obstacles,” he said.
Earlier this week, the Jaffna District Court and Trincomalee District Courts issued interim injunctions preventing the ITAK convention from being held. It was announced that the convention would be held on the 19th of February in Trincomalee. “The party has accepted me as its leader and our people cannot be misled by such manoeuvres. We are ready to face any number of cases,” he said adding that justice will prevail.
Meanwhile, M A Sumanthiran said that he has nothing to do with the court cases being filed over the ITAK convention. When inquired about the case he said that those who have filed the case were also supportive of him.
“I have nothing to do with the injunction proceedings. I cannot comment on the cases that I am not involved in and neither can I be held responsible for it,” he said adding that if the party requests, he is willing to appear for the party and present the case on their behalf.
This convention will be the first under the leadership of Member of Parliament S Shritharan after he was elected the leader of the ITAK. The convention was supposed to bring together the various ideologies amongst the ITAK membership regarding the upcoming presidential polls on the island.
