The Hindu : National : MPs brief PM, Sonia on Sri Lanka visit

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MPs brief PM, Sonia on Sri Lanka visit

J. Balaji

— Photo: Ministry of Information & Broadcasting

Tamil Nadu MPs’ team with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P. Chidambaram in New Delhi on Friday.

NEW DELHI: The delegation comprising of MPs from the Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) and Congress from Tamil Nadu, who recently went to Sri Lanka on a five-day visit to interact with the internally displaced persons (IDPs) , briefed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi about the trip here on Friday.

In a written report, they suggested that India could help by building about one lakh houses, constructing roads and schools, making arrangements for water supply, helping with agriculture and other basic amenities for the IDPs, who were returning home. The MPs suggested that the Rs.1,000 crore aid, promised by India to Sri Lanka, could be given in the form of infrastructure.

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K.V. Thangkabalu told The Hindu that the two leaders told them that a high level delegation from Sri Lanka, led by senior adviser to Sri Lankan president Basil Rajapaksa, might visit India soon to discuss the rehabilitation measures and India’s help in the regard.

The delegates wanted India to ask the Sri Lankan government to speed up de-mining activities, send more experts there to quicken this process, advise it to stop firing indiscriminately on Tamil Nadu fishermen and rehabilitate IDPs before the monsoons.

Congress Rajya Sabha member E.M. Sudarsana Natchiappan, who was part of the delegation, said Ms. Gandhi anxiously enquired about the distribution of food materials sent by India and the availability of milk powder for children.

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi MP Thol. Thirumavalavan, who went to Sri Lanka with the delegation led by DMK parliamentary party leader T.R. Baalu, was a notable absentee in the delegation.

Similarly, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s daughter and Rajya Sabha member K. Kanimozhi was not present when the delegation met Ms. Gandhi.

Home Minister P. Chidambaram and National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan were present when the MPs briefed Dr. Singh.

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