CPI convenes all-party meeting tomorrow on ceasefire in Lanka

Chennai, Nov 16 (UNI) With Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa rejecting the demand for ceasefire, the Communist Party of India (CPI) has convened an all-party meeting here tomorrow to decide the next course of action.

In a statement here, CPI state unit secretary D Pandian said the all-party meeting is being convened in the backdrop of Sri Lankan government rejecting the demand for ceasefire, despite a series of agitations in Tamil Nadu in support of the Tamils.

The meeting to be held at 1100 hrs tomorrow, would discuss the next course of action to be taken to save the Tamils, he said.

Asked about the meeting, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, talking to newspersons in Coimbatore, said political parties, on their own, were taking several efforts to protect the Tamils. The DMK had nothing to do with the all-party meeting, convened by the CPI, he added.

The Lankan Tamils issue, for the first time, assumed the centre stage of Tamil Nadu politics, when the CPI had organised a fast on October 2. After this, political parties organised agitations in support of the Lankan Tamils.

The ruling DMK, on its part organised a public meeting, addressed by Mr Karunanidhi and later convened an all-party meeting on October 14. It followed it up a human chain agitation on October 24.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Film Industry took out a rally in Rameswaram and later observed a day's fast in the city. A host of actors, including senior actors Rajnikanth, Kamal Hasan, Sathyaraj and Manorama took part in the fast, demanding immediate ceasefire in Lanka.

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