The Hindu : Front Page : “Pressure Colombo for political settlement”

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Thursday, Oct 23, 2008
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“Pressure Colombo for political settlement”

Sandeep Dikshit

NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in a suo motu statement in both Houses of Parliament here on Wednesday that New Delhi had emphasised to Colombo that the safety and security of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka must be guarded at all costs.

Mr. Mukherjee was unable to read the statement in the Lok Sabha because of protests by Left parties over the cut in rice quota to Kerala. In the Rajya Sabha, his statement came after many members expressed their views on the situation in Sri Lanka.

Speaking during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Tiruchi Siva (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam), D. Raja (Communist Party of India) and T. K. Rangarajan (CPI-M) said the condition of civilians of Tamil origin was pitiable. Mr. Raja said their plight should be the concern of the entire country as the problem had spilled over to India with the arrival of several refugees from Sri Lanka. Mr. Rangarajan wanted New Delhi to pressure Colombo to reach a political settlement.

V. Maitreyan (AIADMK) differed with the three speakers. He pointed out that while his party recognised the right of the Tamils in Sri Lanka to self-determination, autonomy within the federal set-up and equal access to education and employment, it drew a line at terrorist activities. “We are opposed to the LTTE. This distinction is clear,” he observed.

The AIADMK leader also wanted to know why the DMK with several Ministers in the Union government had remained a “passive and silent spectator” and chose to “suddenly” wake up now. “Deadlines are given and telegrams are being sent. A great resignation drama is being enacted,”he added.

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