Reacting to Tamil Nadu MPs’ warning that they will quit if a solution to the Sri Lankan Tamil problem is not worked out within
two weeks, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that the Lanka issue is a cause for serious concern.
“We believe, the situation in Sri Lanka does not call for military victory but negotiated, political settlement that respects Sri Lankan sovereignty and human rights of ethnic Tamils,” he said.
“We are also concerned about harassment and killing of Indian fishermen in the maritime area between India and Sri Lanka,” the PM said.
Earlier, serving an ultimatum to the Centre on the Sri Lankan Tamil problem, an all-party meeting in Tamil Nadu, convened by chief minister M Karunanidhi, on Tuesday warned that all MPs from the state would resign en masse, if the government failed to halt the war in the island nation within two weeks.
In the strongest ever message from a key ally of the UPA regime, the DMK and other parties demanded that India halt all military aid to Sri Lanka, take steps to halt Colombo's military offensive to ensure the return of peace, and come forward to despatch humanitarian aid.
Resolutions to this effect were passed at the meeting, which was boycotted by the main opposition AIADMK, its ally, MDMK, the BJP and actor Vijaykanth's party, the DMDK.
"If these resolutions are not translated into action and the Union government does not come forward to end the war in two weeks, MPs from Tamil Nadu will have to quit," the resolution said.
Expressing his gratitude to the parties for bolstering his efforts to reach out to the 'Eelam Tamils', Karunanidhi said,
"This outcome, which is intended to be an impetus to India to act and a warning to Colombo, is an important chapter in our history."
timesofindia
two weeks, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that the Lanka issue is a cause for serious concern.
“We believe, the situation in Sri Lanka does not call for military victory but negotiated, political settlement that respects Sri Lankan sovereignty and human rights of ethnic Tamils,” he said.
“We are also concerned about harassment and killing of Indian fishermen in the maritime area between India and Sri Lanka,” the PM said.
Earlier, serving an ultimatum to the Centre on the Sri Lankan Tamil problem, an all-party meeting in Tamil Nadu, convened by chief minister M Karunanidhi, on Tuesday warned that all MPs from the state would resign en masse, if the government failed to halt the war in the island nation within two weeks.
In the strongest ever message from a key ally of the UPA regime, the DMK and other parties demanded that India halt all military aid to Sri Lanka, take steps to halt Colombo's military offensive to ensure the return of peace, and come forward to despatch humanitarian aid.
Resolutions to this effect were passed at the meeting, which was boycotted by the main opposition AIADMK, its ally, MDMK, the BJP and actor Vijaykanth's party, the DMDK.
"If these resolutions are not translated into action and the Union government does not come forward to end the war in two weeks, MPs from Tamil Nadu will have to quit," the resolution said.
Expressing his gratitude to the parties for bolstering his efforts to reach out to the 'Eelam Tamils', Karunanidhi said,
"This outcome, which is intended to be an impetus to India to act and a warning to Colombo, is an important chapter in our history."
timesofindia
