The Hindu : Front Page : Karunanidhi satisfied with Sri Lankan response to fast

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Wednesday, Apr 29, 2009
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Karunanidhi satisfied with Sri Lankan response to fast

Special Correspondent

Terms continuance of shelling “stray incidents”“Tamils question won’t impact polls”

M. Karunanidhi

CHENNAI: Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M. Karunanidhi on Tuesday expressed satisfaction with the response [from Sri Lanka] to the fast he undertook on Monday.

On instances of continued shelling after the Sri Lankan government’s announcement of the conclusion of combat operations with heavy weapons, Mr. Karunanidhi told reporters here that they were stray incidents. He cited a Tamil proverb, implying that after a bout of torrential rain, there could still be isolated showers.

Regarding the Opposition’s criticism that the fast was a deceitful act, the DMK leader responded “that’s how the Opposition would call it. If they do not do it, they are not Opposition parties.”

Responding to an argument that he should have undertaken the fast a few weeks ago, he said he did discuss such an idea two months ago with Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S. Ramadoss, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol. Thirumavalavan and Dravidar Kazhagam president K. Veeramani. At that time, all of them had advised him against such recourse. They wanted him to organise other forms of protest.

Articulating his party’s stand on Eelam, Mr. Karunanidhi said he had been advocating the concept of Tamil Eelam for over 50 years and since the days of S.J.V. Chelvanayakam, Sri Lankan Tamil leader.

He had even moved a resolution. The party founder C.N. Annadurai had spoken in support of it. Those who had used derogatory language against the idea in the past were now supporting it in view of the Lok Sabha election.

He was also in agreement with the Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s stand which, he said, was for state autonomy and providing equal legal safeguards to Tamils and Sinhalese.

If Sri Lankan Tamil leaders only wanted Tamil Eelam and achieved the goal, he would be happy.

When reminded that he, in the past, supported an option even short of Tamil Eelam, the DMK leader said he had indeed done it. If all the leaders sat together and arrived at a consensus which was favourable to the Tamils, he would support it.

After consulting with a committee comprising former Judges and political leaders, his party would present a package to resolve the problem.

The Chief Minister indicated that the Rajiv Gandhi-Jayawardene pact of 1987 could be suitably amended to sort out the problem.

Asked about Bharatiya Janata Party leader Yashwant Sinha’s suggestion of sanctions on Sri Lanka, Mr. Karunanidhi said it would be all right if the imposition of sanctions affected only the Sri Lankan government.

But, when it would affect people, one would have to ponder over such a course of action.

On the Opposition parties highlighting the Sri Lankan Tamils issue in the election campaign, Mr. Karunanidhi responded that they had no other issue to raise.

To a query whether the Tamils question would have any impact on the election, he said there would be no impact.

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