Tamil Eelam only solution: MDMK

Chennai, Mar 29 (UNI) The Marumalarchi DMK (MDMK), a staunch supporter of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) today said that the formation of ''Tamil Eelam'' was the only solution to the vexed ethnic crisis in Sri Lanka.

Releasing the party manifesto here, Mr Vaiko said if a war breakes out in the island nation due to unavoidable circumstances, the MDMK would ''strive to prevent India from extending any kind of military support to the island government.'' The manifesto claimed that when the Mahindra Rajapakse assumed office as Lanka's President, there were attempts to forge military ties between India and Sri Lanka, but the move was dropped thanks to the initiative taken by Mr Vaiko.

Pointing out that Indian fishermen were subjected to repeated attacks by the Sri Lankan navy when they ventue out to the sea for fishing near the Katchativu area, the manifesto said the party would urge the centre to take back the island to protect the Indian fishermen.

The party pledged its support for the implementation of Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project, without compromising on the environmental issues.

It would fight for the repeal of Article 356, ''invoked to dismiss an elected government,'' from the constitution.

The MDMK also promised to prevail upon the centre to make Tirukural as the national literature and declare Tamil as an official language. It would also take up with the centre, the need for introducing censorship for television programmes and necessary laws to remove monopoly dominance in the television sector.

The manifesto said that it would also take up with the centre, the need to provide justice to Tamil Nadu on the Cauvery water issue and ensure that all riparian states abide by the decision of the Cauvery Water dispute tribunal.

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