The Hindu : National : Sri Lankan police personnel have left: Karunanidhi

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Saturday, Aug 05, 2006

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Sri Lankan police personnel have left: Karunanidhi

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The Sri Lankan police personnel being trained at a Central Reserve Police Force camp in Coimbatore have left that city, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi informed the Legislative Assembly on Friday.

Mr. Karunanidhi said that following the sentiments expressed by members, the Chief Secretary spoke to the Union Home Secretary on August 2. He also sent him a letter the next day. Subsequently, the Sri Lankans left the city on Thursday night, he said.

Walkout

Earlier, during zero hour, Selvam (DPI), Ramakrishnan (MDMK), G. K. Mani (PMK) and Y. Sivapunniyam (CPI) again raked up the issue. The Chief Minister said he hoped that the Centre would take note of the sentiments, pain and emotions of the Tamils and take appropriate steps.

Removing suspicion

Mr. Karunanidhi said newspapers had stated that this was only police training and not training for Army personnel. The State Government and the Centre had the duty to remove any suspicion in the minds of Tamils.

Even if this was only police training, Colombo should ponder whether it was needed at this point in time.

He requested the Centre to re-examine the issue.

The Chief Minister said hat he had not forgotten the result of the compassion and affection India showed to Sri Lanka in the past. The consequences of that decision could not be dismissed.

Distressed over

present situation

Mr. Karunanidhi said after he had assumed office in 1989, he met the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. If his discussion had borne fruit, the Sri Lankan situation would have been different.

But unexpectedly, the issue took a different turn. Still, he was very distressed over the present situation in the island nation.

Welcoming the Chief Minister's statement, Mr. Selvam said his party was staging a walkout protesting against the Centre's attitude.

Mr. Ramakrishnan said the training was inappropriate and hence, the MDMK was also staging a walkout. K.A. Sengottaiyan (AIADMK) asked if the DMK, which was part of the Union Government, was not aware of the training.

He asserted that the training had taken place only with the knowledge of the State Government and said that his party was staging a walkout.

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