Date:29/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/29/stories/2008102954720600.htm

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“State should send its own relief to Sri Lankan Tamils”

Special Correspondent

There are precedents to this, says PMK leader

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu government should immediately send relief materials to the Sri Lankan Tamils using its own resources instead of waiting for the Indian government to act, PMK leader S. Ramadoss said on Tuesday.

“There are precedents of the State government using its resources to help the Eelam Tamils. Indian government and the Tamil Nadu government should send relief materials till a political solution is achieved in Sri Lanka,” Dr. Ramadoss said in a statement.

He said if the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa had promised to pursue a political solution and send food and medicine to the Tamils in the war-torn areas the credit should go to the unity shown by Tamil Nadu in support of the Sri Lankan Tamils.

“But it is not enough. All the promises should be kept. All the seven crore people of Tamil Nadu will be happy only when the problem is solved,” he said.

Dr Ramadoss said after a gap of 20 years Tamil Nadu had been consulted in the talks between India and Sri Lanka and called upon Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi to make use of the opportunity. “The Chief Minister should relentlessly pursue the issue. All the political parties should stand by the government. The Centre can be made to act only if we bring together even those who stay away because of political differences,” he further said.

Visit welcomed

CPI(M) State secretary N. Varadarajan also welcomed the visit of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and the promises made by the Sri Lankan government to find a political solution and to protect the interests of the Tamil fishermen.

“The Centre should make continuous efforts to translate these promises into reality. All political parties and organisations should create a congenial atmosphere for the purpose in Tamil Nadu,” he added.

Requesting the Chief Minister to defer the decision of the all party meeting with regard to the resignation of the MPs from Tamil Nadu, Dravidar Kazhagam president K. Veeramani said the government should release all those who had been arrested for making inflammatory speeches.