Tamil Nadu - Cuddalore   

“Centre not acting with alacrity on Sri Lanka issue”

CUDDALORE: It is regrettable that in the Sri Lankan Tamils’ issue the Centre does not seem to be acting with the urgency it deserves, said G.K. Mani, State president of the Pattali Makkal Katchi.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Mr. Mani said that the recent all-party meeting convened at the behest of Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, and subsequently the State Assembly had passed identical resolutions urging the Centre to take immediate steps to prevail upon the Sri Lankan government to stop military offensive against the ethnic Tamils.

Mr. Mani said that the Sri Lankan government had launched brutal attacks in the Tamil regions that had forced children, the aged and the infirm, and pregnant women, to flee to jungles.

The sensitivities of the people of Tamil Nadu sharing their anguish with the plight of their brethren were also promptly conveyed to the Centre, and yet during his recent visit to India, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa had declared that he would not stop military attacks in the Tamil regions.

In this context, the PMK was of the view that the Chief Minister should again convene an all-party meeting to unanimously express their displeasure over the state of affairs and to call for immediate ceasefire in Sri Lanka.

The political parties, instead of following their own agitation programmes, should stand united so as to make their voice heard by the Centre. Mr Mani pointed out that another option was to seek the intervention of the United Nations (UN) in this regard.

When asked whether he perceived any delay in the delivery of the relief materials sent from Tamil Nadu to the displaced Sri Lankan Tamils, Mr. Mani said that the materials were yet to reach the target groups.

If it were done through organisations such as the International Red Cross Society, the relief could reach the suffering people directly and also in time, Mr. Mani said.

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