Date:30/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/30/stories/2008103055861200.htm

National

Ramadoss: India should intervene to stop the war

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: PMK leader S. Ramadoss has accused Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa of shedding “crocodile tears” over the sufferings of Tamils. “He is trying to hoodwink the world by promising that he would ensure that all the relief materials will reach them,” Dr. Ramadoss said reacting to Mr. Rajapaksa’s interview to The Hindu.

As for Mr. Rajapaksa’s explanation that there could be no military solution to the political questions, the PMK leader said it was like “the devil quoting the scripture.” If Mr. Rajapaksa was really committed to a political solution, he should ensure that his four “Ds” approach — Demilitarisation, Democratisation, Development and Devolution — was implemented simultaneously, he said.

A ceasefire followed by a political solution alone would satisfy the Tamils, Dr. Ramadoss said and added that India should intervene to stop the war.

“India cannot give up its responsibility. It should pressure the Sri Lankan government to give up the war. Chief Minister Karunanidhi should take the responsibility of pressuring the Indian government to warn Sri Lanka on behalf of seven crore Tamils.”