TN political parties racing for championing Tamil sentiments

Chennai, Nov 15 (UNI) The recent killing of Tamil refugees at Kathiraveli by the Sri Lankan armed forces in their bloody clashes with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), has reignited the race for championing Tamil sentiments and causes among political parties in Tamil Nadu.

Taking the lead in the agitations against the Lankan government were the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), Dalit Panthers of India (DPI) and the Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) in the DMK led Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) and Marumalarchi DMK (MDMK) in the opposition AIADMK camp.

The ruling DMK, a key constituent in the Congress led UPA government at the Centre, had so far been maintaining a comfortable stand of following the Centre's line of ''non-interference'' in Sri Lanka's internal matters.

But the recent spurt in violence in Sri Lanka, which had resulted in killing of innocent Tamils, had forced the DMK to change the track. In a significant move, party President and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi shot off a letter to Prime Minsiter Manmohan Singh, last week, asking to ''rethink and find an answer to the Sri Lankan crisis.'' Clearly expressing his concern and anguish over the happenings in Sri Lanka, Mr Karunanidhi asked the Centre to think of an appropriate solution to end the war and take immediate steps to bring peace in the island, especially in the Tamil areas.

Reacting to this, the Prime Minsiter, assured him that the Centre would reiterate to the Sri Lankan government that there was no military solution and the only way out was a negotiated political settlement to the ethnic crisis.

The Prime Minister informed Mr Karunanidhi that the Centre, taking note of the situation in Northern and Eastern parts of the island, despatched humanitarian assistance, which included rice, sugar and milk powder. This was considered a victory for the political parties, which had been fighting for the Tamils in the island.

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