The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : PMK founder downplays Chidambaram’s appeal to LTTE

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Tuesday, Feb 17, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

PMK founder downplays Chidambaram’s appeal to LTTE

Special Correspondent

Ramadoss meets CLP leader Sudarssanam at his office

CHENNAI: Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S. Ramadoss on Monday downplayed Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s appeal to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to lay down arms for enabling a dialogue with the Sri Lankan government on the ethnic issue.

After a meeting with Congress Legislature Party leader D. Sudarssanam for about 45 minutes at his office in T. Nagar here, Dr. Ramadoss said that the two sides were sticking to their positions. The LTTE’s political wing chief, A. Nadesan, had been expressing his organisation’s willingness to resume talks. So, it was for the Sri Lankan army to declare cessation of hostilities first.

Recalling a letter he had sent to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Dr. Ramadoss renewed his call for the Congress leadership to intervene in the matter.

The meeting took place in the backdrop of the PMK leader’s letter to Mr. Sudarssanam and Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K.V. Thangkabalu on Sunday. Dr. Ramadoss said that he explained to the CLP leader how the Sri Lankan Tamils were suffering in their country in the wake of the army offensive.

He wanted the Centre to consult A.P. Venkateswaran, former Foreign Secretary, on the issue.

Describing his meeting with Dr. Ramadoss as courtesy, Mr Sudarassanam said that he asked the PMK leader to take up the matter directly with the Congress leadership. The PMK was part of the United Progressive Alliance, which, he said, should face the Lok Sabha elections together.

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