'Switching to Federal system will solve SL crisis'

Chennai, Nov 24: Janata Party President Dr Subramanian Swamy today said a concrete solution to the ethnic crisis in Sri Lanka would be possible only if that country switches to a federal system.

Addressing a press conference here, the former union minister and MP, answering questions on the current skirmishes in Lanka, said there was nothing that India could do in the present situation by intervening.

He claimed that nothing would come out of efforts to end the conflict through talks, unless the Lankan government changes its present unitary constitution.

''India must not resume any talks for working out peace until the Lankan government changes its Constitution,'' he said.

Dr Swamy also said the LTTE was not the main problem in the ethnic strife in Lanka but ''part of the solution''.

He however, observed that LTTE leader Prabhakaran must stand trial for assassinating former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. He has to be extradited, he added.

Dr Swamy said there was no truth behind the argument that the LTTE was not involved in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. ''Two of the key accused Nalini and Murugan had admitted to LTTE's role in killing Rajiv Gandhi to avenge the despatching peace keeping forces during his tenure.

Besides, the woman belt bomber Dhanu, who carried out the killing was hailed as 'Tamil tigress' by the LTTE, Dr Swamy claimed.

UNI

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