Lankan situation worries DPA, Centre's intervention sought

Chennai, June 19 (UNI) The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its allies today expressed concern over the deaths of innocent people in Sri Lanka following fresh conflicts between the island forces and LTTE and sought the Centre's intervention to bring peace to the strife-torn nation.

A resolution to this effect was adopted at an emergent meeting, chaired by DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and attended by leaders of the Congress, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), Dravidar Kazhagam (DK), Communist Party of India (Marxist), CPI and IUML at DMK Headquarters Anna Arivalayam here.

The violence had resulted in killing of innocent people through landmines and air attacks, the resolution said, adding this had led to the influx of more refugees to Tamil Nadu and created a situation demoralising the people of India and Sri Lanka.

''Considering this, we emphasise the Centre should take necessary steps to ensure return of peace to the island,'' the resolution said.

Asked what steps he wanted the centre to take, Mr Karunanidhi, talking to newspersons said, ''it should take all steps to ensure return of peace in Sri Lanka.'' Stating they could not find fault with the Centre on the steps taken by it so far on the vexed issue, Mr Karunanidhi would not pin point what steps the Union Government should take.

''Let us see what steps the Centre is going to take,'' he said.

''This is the first step we have taken. The resolution signed by the leaders of the seven parties will be despatched to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tonight itself. I will also speak to him,'' Mr Karunanidhi said.

Besides Mr Karunanidhi, the resolution was signed by Mr D Sudarsanam (Congress), Dr S Ramadoss (PMK), K Veeramani (DK), T K Rengarajan (CPI-M), D Pandian (CPI) and J M Khader Mohideen (IUML).

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