Karunanidhi to take up Sri Lankan Tamils issue with PM

New Delhi, May 2 (ANI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) chief, M Karunanidhi, on Sunday said that he would discuss issues related to rehabilitation of Sri Lankan Tamilians with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Karunanidhi is on a two-day visit to the national capital.

Interacting with media here, Karunanidhi said he would also urge Prime Minister to release more funds for rehabilitation works.

"Yes, about the Tamilians and Rajapaksa I will speak with the Prime Minister. Yes I will ask for more grant," Karunanidhi said.

Asked about his son and Union Fertilizers Minister Alagiri's constant absence in the parliament and not knowing any language other than Tamil could be embarrassing for Karunanidhi, he said "Not necessarily."

He is also scheduled to meet the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and other officials to finalise the state's annual plan outlay.

On Sunday morning, Karunanidhi called on President Pratibha Patil at the Rashtrapati Bhavan and extend a formal invitation to her for inaugurating the next month's World Tamil Conference to be held at Coimbatore.

Karunanidhi said his purpose of Delhi visit is to meet officials of the Planning Commission.

"The main purpose of visit is to meet the Planning Commission with revised outlay for the development of the state. Also we have invited the President of India for the World Tamil Conference to be held at Coimbatore," he said. (ANI)