( March 19, 2013, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) Pushed to a corner of its own making, the DMK today pulled out of the Congress-led UPA government in the Centre, 'over the Sri Lankan Tamils issue'. But reflecting the tenuousness of the decison, and thepolitics behind, the party also said that it was ready to reconsider the decision.
Saying that the Centre's response was 'lukewarm' on the issue, DMK president M Karunanidhi told reporters here: 'After the government failed to move any resolution (in Parliament against Sri Lanka), continuing in UPA is a damage to Tamilnadu.' The DMK's decision came today, a day after three Union Ministers met him in an apparent bid to 'placate him' on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue.
However, the whole drama looked a bit of a farce as Karunanidhi also left a revolving door for comeback. 'DMK is ready to reconsider its decision (of pulling out of UPA) if Parliament adopts resolution before 21 March,' he said.
Karunanidhi said DMK Ministers would quit the government either today or tomorrow.
'The DMK has always worked for the Tamils and has been demanding a tough stance against the Sri Lankan government over war crimes against Tamils', Karunanidhi claimed.
However, along with the Congress, the DMK is also accused of being silent when war crimes took place in Sri Lanka in 2009. With just one year left for Parliamentary elections, the pull out decision of Karunanidhi is being viewed as a damage-control measure to save the party's falling image and also to score a few brownie points in view of the fast approaching Lok Sabha elections.
It may be recalled that Karunanidhi a couple of days ago had threatened to pull out of the UPA government if the Centre did not seek amendments in the US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka, demanding a credible international investigation into the genocide in that country and punishment for those guilty of war crimes there.
Meanwhile, trouble seems to be mounting for the UPA government following the DMK's decision to walk out of the alliance.
The DMK has 19 MPs in the Lok Sabha and the survival of the UPA government is dependent on the support of the DMK especially after Congress' other ally the Trinamool Congress pulled out from the Centre on the issue of FDI in multi-brand retail. The Congress is also heavily dependent on Samajwadi Party and the BSP who are giving outside support to the UPA government. It is expected that Congress might get the support of some other parties to save the government, in case if the DMK stood firm in its decision.
PTI NEWS:
Meanwhile the Parliament today witnessed repeated adjournments during Question Hour as the AIADMK and DMK disrupted proceedings in both the Houses on the issues of ethnic Tamils in Sri Lanka.
In the Lok Sabha, soon after Speaker Meira Kumar read out obituary references DMK, AIADMK and BJD members trooped into the Well raising slogans. BJD was protesting disinvestment of Nalco.
AIADMK, DMK, VCK and CPI members waved placards which read: 'Try war criminal Rajabakse in International Court' and 'We condemn the betrayal of India against Tamils in UNHRC'.
BJD members led by Arjun Charan Sethi also displayed placards which read: 'Don't Sell National Wealth, Stop Nalco Disinvestment'.
There was commotion in the House with some Trinamool Congress members seen in the aisles but it was not immediately clear what issue they were raising.
As the din continued, the Speaker adjourned the House till noon.
Rajya Sabha witnessed two adjournments before noon as AIADMK and DMK strongly raised the issue of Sri Lankan Tamils.
Immediately after the House met for the day, members of the two parties trooped into the Well shouting slogans.
BJD members moved into the aisles carrying banners against disinvestment of aluminum producer Nalco.
Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari asked the members to take their seats and called for the first listed question of the day.
But, as members refused to budge from their position, Ansari adjourned the House for 15 minutes.
Similar scenes were witnessed when the House met again with members of the Tamilnadu parties shouting, 'We want justice.' They carried posters of slain LTTE chief Prabhakaran's son as they shouted slogans.
BJD members too displayed posters that said: 'BJD Opposes Disinvestment of Nalco.'
With members unrelenting, Ansari adjourned the House till noon.
Subsequently, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 2 p.m after the uproar over Sri Lankan Tamil issue.
 Pushed to a corner of its own making, the DMK today pulled out of the Congress-led UPA g...){kind=link}