No threat to UPA government over Sri Lankan issue: Congress

New Delhi, Oct 17 (UNI) Despite the strong stand taken by the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu on the Sri Lankan Tamil issue, the Congress today said there was no threat to the stability of the UPA government at the Centre.

''Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee were very much perturbed by the situation in Sri Lanka,'' AICC Spokesman Shakeel Ahmed told newspersons.

He said the stand of the Congress was in favour of a negotiated and amicable settlement of the Sri Lankan Tamil issue. ''Military solution is not an option. What we want is political discussion and negotiated settlement.'' Mr Ahmed said Dr Singh and Mr Mukherjee had also said that the aspirations of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka should be addressed.

He said the Congress was engaged in discussion with all the political parties which had attended the all party meeting in Chennai two days ago. The government was also discussing the issue with the responsible people from both ends.

Asked about the resignation submitted by four DMK Rajya Sabha members to DMK Chief M Karunanidhi on the Sri Lankan issue, Mr Ahmed said that he was hopeful that the issue would be settled.

UNI SH LS BD1945