CPI holds fast on Lankan Tamils issue

Chennai, Oct 2: The Tamil Nadu unit of the Communist Party of India (CPI) observed a fast across the State on Thuarsday, Oct 2 urging the Sri Lankan Government to stop attacks on Tamil people by its Army.

The fast was led by CPI State Secretary D Pandian at Chepauk.

Leaders of all political parties, except the ruling DMK, had pledged support to the fast.

Political analysts are of the opinion that the fast would serve as a platform for political realignment in the state, especially in the context of the Left parties' move to form a Third Front without the Congress and the BJP.

In Tamil Nadu, the Left parties said they were open for talks on alliance with any party that did not have truck with the Congress or the BJP.

The parties, which supported the fast, included the main Opposition AIADMK, its ally, the MDMK and the DMDK led by Actor-Politician Vijayakanth among others.

Chief Minister and DMK President M Karunanidhi took exception to the CPI not inviting the DMK for the fast.

Mr Karunanidhi said the CPI could have decided against inviting DMK, as it knew that the party (DMK) had been fighting for the cause of the Lankan Tamils, right from the beginning.

The DMK has convened a public meeting here on October 6 to spell its stand on the Lankan Tamils' issue.

Mr Karunanidhi would address the meeting at Mylapore and make his appeal to the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre on the issue.

UNI