Sri Lankan refugees should be sent back only if they are willing. The Central Government must not force them to return, Communist Party of India State secretary D. Pandian said here on Friday.
The new government in the island nation had said that it would implement the 13{+t}{+h}Amendment to the Constitution to devolve more rights to the Tamils in the North, but the condition was not yet conducive for their return.
Therefore, the refugees must not be coerced into returning, he reiterated.
Tamil’s rights
The Government of India must work with the new political dispensation there to ensure that the Government there restored the Tamils’ rights, including land rights.
And, it must also protect the traditional fishing rights of the fishermen in Tamil Nadu.
The Communist leader wanted the Tamil Nadu Government to explain why it did not give away Pongal goodies as it always did.
The Government must explain if it curtails the distribution and if yes, was it on its volition or forced by the Central Government to do so.
For, the Central Government had clearly stated that it was for doing away with subsidies.
If the Government reduced the assistance to the poor or subsidies such as free power to farmers, the CPI would not hesitate to launch an agitation.
Mr. Pandian urged the State Government to improve the power supply situation saying that small and medium industries in Coimbatore suffered.
Closure of units
A good number of units had closed down and many were on the verge of closure. The situation also had to do with the State’s tax policies.
He urged the Government to reform the Tangedco and milk cooperative administration to make them profitable before increasing the prices to burden consumers.
