Silence or shriek?

(January 27, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Now that External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is on his way to Sri Lanka and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has been hospitalised after he complained of back ache, political parties, especially the vociferous ones over the Lankan issue are in a confusion over how to react, if one has to believe sources.

It is said that these parties (PMK, Communists, VCK and MDMK to be precise) had planned to raise the issue in a bigger way in the Assembly as the Chief Minister bought more time on Saturday by saying that the DMK’s general council would meet before 15 February to chalk out the future course of action.

‘His decision to convene the general council by 15 February will be too late and will not be beneficial to Sri Lankan Tamils. Already, the Centre has been given enough time to take steps on the issue, but they have not bothered about our sentiments. The general council should meet before this month-end,’ said VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan.

PMK founder S Ramadoss too took exception to Karunanidhi’s ‘soft approach’ towards Delhi on the issue. He told reporters in Mayiladuthurai that there was no necessity to wait till 15 February and all like-minded parties should take an immediate decision on the Lankan crisis.

However, Karunanidhi’s admission to hospital and the Centre’s decision to send Pranab immediately to the island nation would make those parties remain silent over the issue at least for some time, it is expected.

Meanwhile, despite a notification from the government that visitors have been asked not to disturb the Chief Minister at the hospital, Tamilnadu Congress Committee president K V Thangkabalu, Congress Floor Leader in the Assembly D Sudarsanam and MLA Peter Alphonse met him in person and wished a speedy recovery.

Get well soon, says Sonia

Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi today wished Chief Minister M Karunanidhi a speedy recovery.

Speaking to Karunanidhi’s daughter and Rajya Sabha member Kanimozhi over phone, Sonia enquired the health condition of the DMK president, an official release from the State government said.

Karunanidhi was admitted to Sri Ramachandra Medical College hospital yesterday where he was advised by the doctors to take complete rest for a week.- Sri Lanka Guardian