(November 14, Chennai, Sri Labnka Guardian) The vexatious Sri Lankan issue continued to echo in the State Assembly with an impassioned Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, in his practised vein, claiming that he was ready to relinquish his post over the issue.
The ethnic strife in the neighbouring nation had resulted in heated exchanges, arguments and walkouts in the Assembly over the past few days.
With Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse ruling out a ceasefire yesterday, the issue has taken a sharp turn with members of political parties urging the State government to act swift on the issue.
Speaking during the discussions, Karunanidhi stated that he was ready to quit his post over the issue. He said, ‘we cannot tolerate atrocities on Tamils. We are not power-hungry to enjoy here when Tamils are suffering’.
When an all-party meeting was convened, it was decided that the Ministers and MPs would resign from Parliament. ‘The DMK and the PMK were ready. Unfortunately the rest of them wanted to consult their party heads. The issue had taken several turns after that,’ he said.
On Rajapakse’s remarks that he would not let down Tamils, Karunanidhi said, ‘it has been uttered only to hoodwink the Tamils. He has clearly stated that he would use all his might to bring an end to LTTE. The Central government should understand the meaning behind this statement.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi should handle the issue very carefully’. Launching a tirade against Rajapakse, Karunanidhi said, ‘under the pretext of finishing off the LTTE, the Lankan military is bombing Tamil establishments.
Temples, schools and residential areas of Tamils are destroyed. It is an attempt to end both Tamils and the LTTE. Manmohan Singh should not be deceived by the words of Rajapakse’
Karunanidhi urged the Central government to request the Lankan government to stop
shelling Tamils. ‘If they continue to pay no heed to our request, we will think of alternatives.
‘We have achieved success treading the path of ahimsa shown by Mahatma Gandhi, Periyar and Annadurai. I will fight in their way for bringing an end to the issue’, he said.
Earlier the House witnessed noisy scenes when the AIADMK members were on their feet demanding what action the State government would take following Rajapakse’s ‘no’ to the ceasefire offer.
AIADMK MLA O Pannerselvam said, ‘Rajapakse’s statement has come as a rude shock for millions of Tamils. It is an appropriate time for the DMK and its allies to withdraw their support to the Union government and relinquish their Ministerial posts. Respecting the sentiments of the Tamils, the DMK MPs should resign as decided in the all-party meeting’.
PMK MLA G K Mani also sought an explanation from the Chief Minister as to what they would be doing with Rajapakse declining to accept the ceasefire.
Sivapunniyam (CPI), Ravikumar (Viduthalai Siruthalaigal) and Kannappan (MDMK) urged the Union government to act tough with its Sri Lankan counterpart over the issue. ‘The Centre should ensure that Tamils live peacefully without any problem’, they said.
Congress MLA Gnanasekaran said, ‘Sri Lanka is a sovereign State. The Tamilnadu government has urged the Union government to take up the issue with Lankan government. Unfortunately MLAs from various political parties, overcome by emotions, have been urging for a military action. It is not fair’.
This sparked heated exchanges between the Congress and members of other political parties. - Sri Lanka Guardian
The ethnic strife in the neighbouring nation had resulted in heated exchanges, arguments and walkouts in the Assembly over the past few days.
With Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse ruling out a ceasefire yesterday, the issue has taken a sharp turn with members of political parties urging the State government to act swift on the issue.
Speaking during the discussions, Karunanidhi stated that he was ready to quit his post over the issue. He said, ‘we cannot tolerate atrocities on Tamils. We are not power-hungry to enjoy here when Tamils are suffering’.
When an all-party meeting was convened, it was decided that the Ministers and MPs would resign from Parliament. ‘The DMK and the PMK were ready. Unfortunately the rest of them wanted to consult their party heads. The issue had taken several turns after that,’ he said.
On Rajapakse’s remarks that he would not let down Tamils, Karunanidhi said, ‘it has been uttered only to hoodwink the Tamils. He has clearly stated that he would use all his might to bring an end to LTTE. The Central government should understand the meaning behind this statement.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi should handle the issue very carefully’. Launching a tirade against Rajapakse, Karunanidhi said, ‘under the pretext of finishing off the LTTE, the Lankan military is bombing Tamil establishments.
Temples, schools and residential areas of Tamils are destroyed. It is an attempt to end both Tamils and the LTTE. Manmohan Singh should not be deceived by the words of Rajapakse’
Karunanidhi urged the Central government to request the Lankan government to stop
shelling Tamils. ‘If they continue to pay no heed to our request, we will think of alternatives.
‘We have achieved success treading the path of ahimsa shown by Mahatma Gandhi, Periyar and Annadurai. I will fight in their way for bringing an end to the issue’, he said.
Earlier the House witnessed noisy scenes when the AIADMK members were on their feet demanding what action the State government would take following Rajapakse’s ‘no’ to the ceasefire offer.
AIADMK MLA O Pannerselvam said, ‘Rajapakse’s statement has come as a rude shock for millions of Tamils. It is an appropriate time for the DMK and its allies to withdraw their support to the Union government and relinquish their Ministerial posts. Respecting the sentiments of the Tamils, the DMK MPs should resign as decided in the all-party meeting’.
PMK MLA G K Mani also sought an explanation from the Chief Minister as to what they would be doing with Rajapakse declining to accept the ceasefire.
Sivapunniyam (CPI), Ravikumar (Viduthalai Siruthalaigal) and Kannappan (MDMK) urged the Union government to act tough with its Sri Lankan counterpart over the issue. ‘The Centre should ensure that Tamils live peacefully without any problem’, they said.
Congress MLA Gnanasekaran said, ‘Sri Lanka is a sovereign State. The Tamilnadu government has urged the Union government to take up the issue with Lankan government. Unfortunately MLAs from various political parties, overcome by emotions, have been urging for a military action. It is not fair’.
This sparked heated exchanges between the Congress and members of other political parties. - Sri Lanka Guardian
 The vexatious Sri Lankan issue continued to echo in the State Assembly with an impassioned Chie...){kind=link}
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