RS members voice concern at "Tamil genocide" in Sri Lanka

New Delhi, Oct 22 (UNI) Members of the Rajya Sabha today expressed serious concern at the "genocide" and worsening human rights condition of Tamils in Sri Lanka and urged the UPA government to take up the matter with Colombo at the highest level and stop giving military aid to that country.

Raising the matter during Zero Hour, T N Siva (DMK) said, the House should unanimously condemn the 'genocide' of Tamils. He alleged that the Sri Lankan Army was using 'chemical bombs'to "wipe out" the Tamil civilians.

He said the people would form the longest-ever human chain on October 24 in Tamill Nadu to express solidarity with the Sri Lankan Tamils.

Dr V Maitreyan (AIADMK) said there were two issues involved.

One was that of the fight for self determination by the Tamils and the other was of terrorism (LTTE). While they were favouring the first, they were opposed to the second (terrorism), he added.

He alleged that the Indian government had not only remained a mute spectator to the atrocities against the Tamils in Sri Lanka but had actually "collaborated' with the Sri Lankan government by giving them arms.

Mr D Raja (CPI) said a "full scale war' was on against the Tamil minority in Sri Lanka. He said it was not a matter that concerned Tamil Nadu only, but the entire nation should raise its voice against the atrocities.

UNI RB NK AS1500