New Delhi: Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko, party MPs L. Ganesan, `Gingee' N. Ramachandran, C. Krishnan and A. Ravichandran, and cadres will observe a one-day fast near Jantar Mantar on Monday to protest against the killing of innocent Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Announcing this at a press conference here, Mr. Vaiko urged the Centre to impress on Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is on a visit to India, to stop the attacks on Tamils by the armed forces.

The Centre must persuade Sri Lanka to honour the sincere efforts of Norway towards the peace talks by fulfilling the commitment made by it in the last round of talks.

"Do not provide arms"

At a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday, he recalled the assurance given in 2004 that India would not provide any arms to Sri Lanka andurged Dr. Singh to follow the same.

He also urged the Centre not to provide training to Sri Lankan pilots. Further, India should not agree to undertake joint patrolling with the Sri Lankan Navy.

Mr. Vaiko wanted the Government to ensure that Sri Lanka lifted the economic blockade by opening the A 9 highway to Jaffna, so that the people were not forced to starve.

The opening of the highway should not be a one-time measure.

Quota issue

On reservation, Mr. Vaiko wanted the Centre to bring in an amendment to the Constitution to enable the States to decide the percentage of quota.

As far as Tamil Nadu was concerned, the Centre must ensure that the existing 69 per cent quota was protected.

On the controversy over installation of a statue of the former Union Minister Murasoli Maran in the Parliament complex, he said Maran was not a great leader like Periyar, Anna, MGR or Rajaji or a great parliamentarian like Bhupesh Gupta, Acharya Kripalani, R. Venkataraman or C. Subramaniam.

He asked the Government to unveil a portrait of Periyar in the Central Hall and install his statue in Parliament.

The MDMK leader said his party fully supported the demand for 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies.

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