PM's decision to send bureaucrat as envoy criticised

Chennai, Aug 17: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's decision to send National Security Advisor M K Narayanan to brief Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on the Sri Lankan crisis came under criticism in the State Assembly today.

Speaking on a condolence resolution on the death of 61 Tamil girls in an air-strike in Sri Lanka, Dalit Panthers of India (DPI) floor leader Selvam questioned the Prime Minister's action in sending a bureaucrat to apprise Mr Karunanidhi on the issue.

As Mr Karunanidhi was the seniormost, seasoned politician in the country, Dr Singh should have sent a Union Minister, he said.

He asked why the Centre was staying silent on the Lankan problem.

Taking objection to this, Congress Legislature Party leader D Sudarsanam said the Congress-led UPA Government was in no way responsible for the recent developments in Sri Lanka.

Stating the DPI member had commented without knowing past history, he said during the regime of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, a bureaucrat, Parthasarathy, was deputed to Tamil Nadu on the issue.

Though Mr Narayanan belonged to Kerala, he knew Tamil and was well versed in the Lankan problem. As he was an able administrator, Dr Singh chose him as special envoy to Mr Karunandhi, he said.

He said the Centre and the Prime Minister were closely monitoring the developments in the island nation and added that the DPI member had made the remark with an ulterior motive.

MDMK floor leader M Kannappan said the Government should reveal to the people what had transpired at the meeting between the Chief Minister and the special envoy.

Electricity Minister Arcot N Veerasamy said the discussions held between Mr Karunanidhi and Mr Narayanan were confidential. 'It will not be good either for India or for the Lankan Tamils to reveal it.' Mr Karunanidhi was not present in the House during the discussion.

UNI

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