‘Intervene today itself, or else...’

Political Fire in Tamil Nadu over Sri Lankan Issue
_______________

(January 24, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) Urging the Union government to intervene in the Lankan issue today itself, a ‘final resolution’ was passed in the Tamilnadu Assembly to help ‘put an end to the war in Sri Lanka’ and to ‘ensure peace’ in the island nation.

Speaking after he formally moved the resolution, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi said the DMK general council would meet to decide on future course of action if the Centre failed to to pay heed to the demand of the State Assembly. For the record, he also said that he was ready to lose power over the issue.

When a special call attention motion was brought in the Assembly today by putting aside the question hour, legislators of various political parties including the AIADMK, Congress, PMK, CPI, CPI-M, MDMK and VCK voiced their respective stands.

Dubbing the resolution as a drama, Deputy Leader of the Opposition O Panneerselvam said the ruling DMK was very much a part of the Union government and could not be sending an ultimatum as ‘outsider’.

Following this, legislators of the main opposition AIADMK staged a walkout from the Assembly. The MDMK also followed suit.

Slamming the Lankan government for ‘destroying Tamils’, VCK legislator Ravikumar, said, ‘the Indian government should ensure that the Tamils in Sri Lanka got their due rights.’

CPI member Sivapunniyam said that a web site run by the Lankan Army had claimed that India was helping them. ‘We should warn the Centre, rather than requesting them over the issue,’ he said.

CPI-M MLA Govindasamy said the Indian govermnent should approach the issue in a diplomatic way and put an end to the attoricities against the Tamils.

In his address, Karunanidhi said the Centre should not ignore this ‘last request’ by Tamilnadu Assembly. ‘The Indian government should intervene and stop the war immediately. Later, it should pave way for talks,’ he said.

PMK wants DMK to lose power

Pattali Makkal Katchi, whose MP Anbumani Ramadoss is the Union Health Minister, today urged the DMK government in Tamilnadu to set a history by losing power over the Lankan issue.

Speaking on the special call attention motion in the Assembly today, PMK leader G K Mani said the DMK should think about sacrificing its rule to safeguard the Tamils.

Later, legislators of the party raised slogans against the Lankan government.Replying to this, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi said he was ready to step down for the sake of Tamils. ‘However, it is to be noted that we are able to raise our voice in an effective way only because of the fact that we are in power,’ he said. - Sri Lanka Guardian