CM will lead delegation to meet PM to press for ceasefire in SL

Chennai, Nov 25 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and ruling DMK President M Karunanidhi would lead an all-party delegation to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on December four to press for ceasefire in Sri Lanka.

A meeting of Legislature parties, chaired by Mr Karunanidhi to discuss the next course of action on the Tamils issue at the secretariat here today, adopted an unanimous resolution to this effect.

The meeting was attended by the representatives of the Congress, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK).

The meeting, however, suffered a setback as major opposition parties, including the All India Anna DMK, Communist Party of India (Marxist), CPI, Marumalarchi DMK (MDMK) and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) led by actor Vijayakanth boycotted the meeting.

Today's meeting was yet another initiative taken by the Chief Minister in consultation with PMK founder leader Dr S Ramadoss to ensure ceasefire in Sri Lanka, though AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa and MDMK General Secretary Vaiko dubbed it as an 'eye-wash.' The DMK government, perturbed by the sufferings of Lankan Tamils with the Island government showing no sign of declaring ceasefire, organised an all party meeting on October 14 and followed it up with a human chain agitation on October 24.

On November 12, the state assembly adopted an unanimous resolution, urging the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre to prevail upon Sri Lanka to declare ceasefire, but the war continued.

It was in this backdrop, the Chief Minister, in consultation with Dr Ramadoss, convened the meeting of Legislature parties and decided to lead a delegation to meet the Prime Minister.

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