The war between film actor Vijayakanths fans and PMK cadres is over with the film actors followers today responding to the cease fire call from PMK president G K Mani yesterday. Mani had urged his party men not to hold any more protests against the actor or his association.

It may be recalled that Vijayakanth had been at the receiving end of PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss for speaking out against his son and Union Minister Anbumani at a public meeting in Kallakurichi recently. Apparently referring to Anbumani, he had stated that people who were not contesting elections were getting Ministerial berths in the Union Cabinet. This resulted in PMK cadre and its leaders, all across the State, burning effigies of the actor and issuing statements against Vijayakanth. They even threatened to stop the screening of Vijayakanths movies in theatres across the State. With the showdown between them reaching a new low in the last few days, it was expected that the actor would open his heart this week. Meanwhile, the Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI), The Film Producers and the Distributors Association issued statements urging the PMK supreme Dr S Ramadoss to intervene and sort out the issue. They observed in the resolutions that issuing threats to theatres preventing the screening of the actors films would affect the lives of thousands of families surviving on the meagre income through their profession.

In a sudden development, PMK president G K Mani, in a statement to his partymen to put an end the continuing clashes with the actors fans. He said this was the time when the PMK had to dedicate itself to a struggle over a number of issues related to liquor shops, hike in college fees, water supply and so on.

On Vijayakanth's statements against Anbumani, PMK president observed that the actor might have made them unwittingly and there was no need for the cadres to take to streets on the issue, as the party has chosen to meet the challenges politically. Appreciating the sentiments of PMK partymen, Mani said, there was no need for them to indulge in protests over the issue.

Meanwhile, actor Vijayakanth who returned to Chennai from Coimbatore held discussions with the office-bearers of his fans association on the PMKs decision. It was decided during the meeting to stop all their protests against the PMK. At the same time, Ramu Vasanthan, general secretary, All India Vijayakanth Fans Association, in a statement, said, in respect of the PMKs decision to wind up all the protests, the members of the actors fans associations too had been advised to stop all
form of agitations.

He said, we would continue with our social welfare activities including providing financial assistance for the students. He also thanked Tamilnadu unit of Bharathiya Janata Party, the members of the Vanniyar Sangam, MGR Kazhagam, Puthiya Tamizhagam president Dr S Krishnasamy, the Tamil Film Producers Council, Distributors Association, Theatre Owners Association and members of the film fraternity. With both groups showing restraint, the issue which threatened to
snowball into a big crisis, seems to have been solved for now.