The Hindu : Front Page : "Centre, State have identical views on Sri Lankan question"

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Saturday, Nov 25, 2006
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"Centre, State have identical views on Sri Lankan question"

R.K. Radhakrishnan

FRUITFUL MEETING: Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon (left) and National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan with Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi in Chennai on Friday. — Photo: S.R. Raghunathan

CHENNAI: National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan and Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon discussed the Sri Lankan situation with Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi here on Friday.

The Centre and Tamil Nadu had identical views on the Sri Lankan question, Mr. Narayanan told presspersons. "The discussions went off well," Mr. Narayanan said. "The Prime Minister and the Chief Minister have a regular dialogue, particularly on matters relating to Sri Lanka," he said.

Mr. Menon, who is back from a meeting with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, said he briefed Mr. Karunanidhi on the discussions he had with the President on Thursday. "As part of our normal process of consultations, I informed the Chief Minister about my discussions in Colombo yesterday and sought his guidance on how to proceed. We will continue this process because this is an ongoing issue," he said. Asked about Colombo's response, he said: "I will let Colombo speak for themselves."

In answer to another question, Mr. Narayanan said that India's policy on Sri Lanka was quite clear.

"We want a solution to the problem in Sri Lanka which takes into consideration the aspirations of all the people of Sri Lanka within the framework of a united Sri Lanka. I think that is the goal that we all are trying to work for. Now, how you do it, at what stage you do it, and what means we use, I think this is something that will evolve with the situation and we are consulting among ourselves," he said.

Humanitarian aid

On the manner of sending humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka Mr. Narayanan said the Centre would take a decision on sending it.

"We will decide if there is necessity for it [sending humanitarian aid] at all. And if so, we will decide what will be the modalities."

Talking to The Hindu , Mr. Karunanidhi said the State Government did not raise new issues or offer new suggestion. It merely reiterated the proposals put forth earlier, he said.

"The State agrees with the views of the Centre," said Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology Dayanidhi Maran, who was also present.

Asked if Tamil Nadu stressed on a rethink of the Indian position on Sri Lanka, Mr. Karunanidhi said: "Both of them came to rethink."

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