MK should press Centre on Lankan Tamils issue: DPI

Madurai, Nov 30 (UNI) Instead of remaining confident about the Centre's initiatives to resolve the Sri Lankan ethnic conflict, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi should make the Manmohan Singh government concur with his stand, DPI leader Thol Thirumavalavan today said.

The DMK patriarch was committed to the cause of 'Eelam' Tamils, but he should be 'emphatic' with the Centre on the issue, he told media persons.

More was expected from the Chief Minister than being content with mere 'concurrence', the DPI leader said here.

On the LTTE reiterating its position to pursue establishment of a separate homeland for Tamils in the island nation, he said the Centre should positively consider this. New Delhi's stand would have a significant bearing on other countries recognising 'Eelam'', he felt.

Demanding the Centre to stop all military and strategic assistance to Sri Lanka, he said supply of food to Colombo too would fall in this category. Claiming there were reports of training to Lankan Air Force personnel in North India, he urged the government to stop this.

The Dalit leader criticised the state visit of Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, saying it had hurt the sentiments and emotions of the people of Tamil Nadu.

Taking exception to Union Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar inviting Mr Rajapakse to his daughter's wedding, he demanded an open apology from the Congress leader, failing which the DPI would resort to agitation.

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