PMK Supremo plea to TN CM on Lankan Tamil issue

Chennai, Oct 7 (UNI) Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) Founder- Leader S Ramadoss today urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to take the lead in uniting all political parties and other forces in the State under one banner to stop the genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Welcoming Mr Karunanidhi's call for unity among political parties and other organisations to fight for the Tamils' cause, Dr Ramadoss, in a statement here, said the Chief Minister should not stop with his call but come forward and take the lead.

The PMK leader hailed the Chief Minister for his remarks made at a public meeting here last night that as the head of Tamils in the State, he had the responsibilty to protect the Tamils, wherever they lived, when they were attacked.

On India summoning Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Delhi and lodging its protest against the attacks on Tamils in the island-nation, the PMK leader said there was no use in taking up the matter at diplomatic level.

Instead, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should call up Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse and condemn the killings of Tamils.

'The Prime Minister should warn the Sri Lankan President against shooting Tamils and bombing in the Tamil areas,' he said.

Stating media reports about the sufferings of Tamils were not complete, Dr Ramadoss suggested the Chief Minister invite a delegation of 22 MPs of Tamil National Alliance from Sri Lanka to know the plight of the Tamils.

The Chief Minister should also ensure the delegation met the Prime Minister and Congress President Sonia Gandhi and explain the situation in Sri Lanka, the PMK leader said.

For first hand information about the sufferings of Tamils and ''atrocities'' committed by the Sri Lankan forces in the North and East there,India should send a delegation of MPs of national parties, he suggested.

The delegation should meet the Tamils who were made refugees in their own land. Based on the report submitted by the delegation, India should provide humanitarian assistance to the affected Tamils, he said.

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