Centre must rush humanitarian aid to Lankan Tamils: BJP

Chennai, Sep 20 (UNI) Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and veteran BJP leader L K Advani today said the Centre must send humanitarian aid to the suffering Tamil population in Sri Lanka in consultation with the Government in the island nation.

Addressing a press conference here, he said in line with the consistent policy of successive Governments at the Centre, the BJP was committed to a united Sri Lanka maintaining its integrity.

''But the interests of Tamils must also be safeguarded,'' he asserted.

Experience had amply shown that there could not be a satisfactory and enduring solution to the ethnic problem in Sri Lanka without both these principles being simultaneously pursued, he pointed out.

Criticising Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi indirectly, Mr Advani charged that being a supporter of the cause of Tamils, the DMK chief now seemed to be more concerned about criticising Lord Ram, rather than taking up the cause of the Tamil people in Lanka.

As the reports from Jaffna of late were distressing and disturbing, the Tamil Nadu Government should take more interest in the issue, he opined.

Sri Lankan Tamils have to be reassured that the Government in Colombo was doing its best to care for their welfare without discrimination, he said, adding that as a first step towards this, the Sri Lankan Government should immediately rush food, medicines and other basic requirements to the suffering Tamils in that country.

UNI