Lankan Tamils issue related to India's sovereignty: Nedumaran

Tiruchirapalli, Mar 1 (UNI) Tamilar Desiya Iyakkam (Tamils Nationalist Movement) president P Nedumaran today said the Centre should handle the Sri Lankan Tamils' issue as one concerning India's sovereignty and security.

Adressing a press conference here, he alleged that China, Pakistan, the US and the UK were supplying arms to Sri Lanka with an ulterior motive of utilising the island nation as base for their ''subversive activities'' against India.

He alleged that the Centre had failed to realise these vital points and was extending military assistance to Sri Lanka against the interests of Tamils.

''The LTTE did not seek help from any country, which is against India,'' Mr Nedumaran claimed.

So far, the Lankan Navy had killed 350 Indian fishermen and both the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard did not take any action in this regard, he said. The government had also failed to get adequate compensation from the Lankan Government for the victims' families.

Mr Nedumaran also pointed out that the fishermen should be provided arms and arms training on the lines of the Home Guards.

He said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had assured him (Mr Nedumaran) of taking up the Sri Lankan Tamils issue with the Centre. But the Chief Minister failed to fulfil his assurance and also hesitated to give an appointment to him, he said.

Stating that half of his collection of drugs and essential commodities, meant for the suffering Tamils in Sri Lanka, had already spoiled, Mr Nedumaran said if the Centre and the state government continued with its lethargic attitude in this regard, he would mobilise people's support and send the commodities to Sri Lanka.

Referring to the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project (SSCP), he said some communal forces were attempting to stall the project in the name of Lord Ram. The project should be implemented at any cost, he added.

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