Lanka-US Defence Pact a security threat: Krishnasamy

Madurai, Mar 9 (UNI) Describing the Defence Pact between Sri Lanka and the United States as a serious security threat, Puthiya Thamizhagam (PT) President Krishnasamy questioned the Centre's silence over the issue.

Addressing the media here, Dr Krishnasamy said Colombo-Washington defence cooperation was 'part of the design to bring the whole of the sub-continent under US control. It portends a serious security threat in the Indian Ocean region,' he warned.

Demanding that Parliament should discuss the strategically important issue, he recalled the earlier attempts of Pentagon to have a military base in Trincomallee in Northern Sri Lanka.

Referring to the continued attacks on Indian fishermen by Lankan Navy, he said mere expression of concern would not suffice. Rather, the Defence Minister and Prime Minister should issue a stern warning to Colombo to desist from resorting to firing upon the fishermen.

In his view, both the State and the Centre were responsible for the safety and security of the fishermen.

To press the Centre to step in to save the fishermen, the PT would organise a bandh in the coastal districts and efforts were being made to enlist the support of all political parties. Dr Krishnasamy said he would meet leaders of all parties in this regard.

To a querry, he said the state government should identify the more than 12 lakh acre of 'panchami' lands (non-transferrable lands granted to Dalits during British rule) and take steps to hand them over to the original deed holders.

Further, the government was urged to acquire the huge tracts of lands with the temples, religious mutts and trusts for redistribution to the landless.

The DMK Government's programme of providing two-acres land to the landless was 'inadequate.' Moreover, freebies like free-colour TV and subsidised rice at Rs two per kg would not help improve the life of the poor, he noted.

The PT would observe the party's tenth anniversary as year of Social Justice Retrieval and a conference on the theme would be organised in December. He also demanded the government to erect a statue and construct a memorial to honour Dalit martyr Immanuel Sekaran at Paramakudi in Ramanathapuram District.

UNI