India has no sympathy for LTTE: Pranab Mukherjee

New Delhi, Jan 27, (ANI): External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday said that India doesn't have any sympathy for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and added that Tamil civilians should not be made victims of the conflict in the island nation.

"We are for fight against terrorists and all sorts of terrorism. Therefore, we have no sympathy for any terrorist activity indulged in by any organisation, particularly LTTE, which is a banned organisation in India," Pranab Mukherjee told reporters on Tuesday, hours before his two-day visit to Sri Lanka.

With Sri Lankan Government claiming to have captured Mullaithivu, Mukherjee said India is concerned over the plight of civilians and how they can be protected.

Mukherjee, who has left for Colombo, will be meeting President Mahinda Rajapaksha and Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama.

He is expected to impress upon the Rajapaksa government to look for a political settlement to the ethnic problem to ensure aspirations of all communities, including ethnic Tamils.

Mukherjee believes that military victory is not a solution to the problems afflicting Sri Lanka.

Mukherjee is also expected to press the Sri Lankan government for early implementation of the devolution package, which is aimed at ensuring equal rights and privileges to all sections of the society. This visit is taking place after the repeated demands by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and some other political parties of the state to send the Foreign Minister to Sri Lanka to stop the army offensive.

Mukherjee reminded that Tamil Nadu political parties had met the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh some times back and demanded that India should look at the sad plight of civilian Tamils who have been victims of fight between LTTE and Sri Lankan armed forces.

At that point of time the Dr. Singh had said that he may send the External Affairs Minister to have discussions with authorities of Sri Lanka."

Foreign Secretary, Shivshankar Menon has also visited to Sri Lanka earlier this month after which it was decided that Mukherjee will visit the island nation for more discussions.

"I will go to Sri Lanka and have discussions with the President and other authorities there and to see what best could be done in this situation," Mukherjee said. (ANI)