Indian Communists called a day long fast across Tamilnadu against the Rajapaksha Regime

(September 27, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Communist Party of India (CPI) will observe a day long fast across Tamilnadu on 2 October to condemn the killing of innocent Sri Lankan Tamils in the Island Nation by the military troops. Talking to reporters here today, CPI State Secretary D Pandian said the fast would be held in front of all district headquarters. It would be held in front of the State Guest House in the city.

He said large number of Lankan Tamils were being killed in air and ground attacks by the Lankan military troops. More than three lakh Tamils were living as refugees in forest areas.
The fast was to urge the Indian government to insist its Lankan counterpart to openly declare a methodology to arrive a peaceful political solution to the decades-long ethnic crisis.

‘Till then India should stop all military and economic assistance to Sri Lanka’, he added. He also urged the Sri Lankan government to come out with a proposal on finding a solution to the ethnic crisis.

‘Let the Sri Lankan government put forth its stand before the world. If it is acceptable we will appeal to the Sri lankan Tamils to consider it and also urge the LTTE to lay down arms and come to the negotiating table’, he added.

Observing that there was increase in domestic production and the prices of crude had come down in the international market, Pandian said the time was ripe for the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre to roll back the hike in prices of petrol and diesel.

‘If it failed to do so, the Left parties will continue it campaign against the Centre’’, he added. He said the CPI was hopeful of forming an alternative front sans Congress and the BJP.

‘We are open for talks with any party that did not have tie up with the Congress or the BJP’. Asked about the possibility of simultaneous polls to the Tamilnadu Assembly and Lok Sabha, Pandian said it was for the Chief Minister to take a decision. - Sri Lanka Guardian