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Sri Lanka issue echoes in Parliament

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The plight of Tamils caught in the war between the Sri Lankan Army and LTTE militants in the island nation was raised in both Houses of Parliament on Friday, with MPs urging the Centre to talk to the Sri Lankan government to ensure the safety of displaced Tamils.

Raising the issue during the zero hour in Rajya Sabha, D. Raja (CPI) said there was a grave humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka where over three lakh Tamils had been pushed inside the jungles by the Sri Lankan Army.

“It is a matter of concern for all of us. India cannot remain a mute spectator and should withdraw all types of military aid being provided to the Sri Lankan Army. Indian government should immediately intervene and safeguard the Tamils,” he said.

Stating that it was not an internal matter of Sri Lanka as over 75,000 Sri Lankan Tamils were living as refugees in Tamil Nadu, Mr. Raja asked the Centre to recast its policy towards Sri Lanka and to come out clean on the entire issue.

S. Thirunavukkarasar of the BJP accused the Sri Lankan government and its army of killing innocent Tamils. Despite the delayed visit of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukhejee to Sri Lanka, nothing had improved as the Tamils continued to suffer. “All human rights are being violated.

No international human rights organisation or aid organisation is being allowed to visit the war-torn areas. India should raise this matter in the United Nations,” he said.

Intervening in the matter, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V. Narayansamy said President Pratibha Patil had already enumerated India’s policy on the Sri Lankan Tamil issue in her address and India favoured an immediate ceasefire and that the matter be resolved through negotiations.

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