Centre to consider granting Indian citizenship to Lankan refugees

Chennai, Oct 3 (ANI): Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said here on Saturday that the Centre would consider a proposal by the Tamil Nadu Government to grant Indian citizenship to all Sri Lankan Tamil refugees living in the state.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had earlier urged the Centre to grant Indian citizenships to these refugees.

Briefing reporters after meeting Karaunanidhi, Chidambaram said: "The matter would be considered after holding talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister S M Krishna."

Commenting on sending a delegation of Indian MPs to Sri Lanka to assess the post conflict situation there, Chidambaram said it is also under the consideration of the Union Government.

The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazagam (DMK) adopted a resolution on September 26 on the occasion of the centenary celebrations of former state Chief Minister C N Annadurai and asked Centre to grant citizenship and rehabilitate over 100,000 refugees in the state.

Meanwhile, spiritual leader Ravi Shankar had backed the Tamil Nadu Government's demand and said his Art of Living Foundation would conduct a signature campaign in support of this demand. (ANI)