Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president M. Karunanidhi on Wednesday asked the Union government to declare immediately its support for the resolution to be moved by the United States at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) against Sri Lanka.
Drawing the Centre’s attention to general strike call given by the Tamil Eelam Supporters’ Organisation (TESO), pressing India to support the resolution, Mr. Karunanidhi said the Centre should understand the sentiments of the Tamils and immediately spell out its position.
Mr. Karunanidhi rejected the criticism that the DMK had failed to take any constructive measures when the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was at its peak in 2009, when it was in power in Tamil Nadu.
“An all-party meeting was held and a resolution was adopted asking MPs from Tamil Nadu to submit their resignation if the war was not stopped. All the DMK MPs submitted their resignation letters to me. The resolution was sent to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and he agreed to take steps to stop the war,” Mr. Karunanidhi said.
The DMK leader said he went on an impromptu fast, demanding an immediate ceasefire, and the Sri Lankan government came out with a false announcement about cessation of hostilities.
“I did not expect the Sri Lankan government to lie. After it announced a ceasefire, the Central government informed me about it and I gave up my protest,” he said, adding he had declared in the Assembly that he was ready to sacrifice his government if it would benefit the Sri Lankan Tamils.
