DMK president M. Karunanidhi on Wednesday struck a note of caution against attacks on Sri Lankan pilgrims and the government’s decision to send back school football teams, saying when everyday existence proved to be a struggle for Tamils in Sri Lanka, the actions of those in Tamil Nadu should not aggravate the situation for them.
In a statement here, he said tourists and pilgrims were targeted after the government in its apparent love for the Tamils had decided to send home the football teams that visited Tamil Nadu to play friendly matches. “Training Sri Lankan Army is entirely different from allowing sportspersons visiting the country,” he said.
Referring to the advisory issued by the Sri Lankan government against its citizens visiting Tamil Nadu, Mr. Karunanidhi said Sri Lankan Tamils had close ties with the Tamils here and the action against sportspersons and attack on pilgrims would severely affect the relationship.
Mr. Karunanidhi said a resolution condemning the genocide in Sri Lanka had already been adopted in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and a technical committee headed by the UN commissioner of the human rights Navi Pillai was scheduled to visit on September 14 the war-affected areas and study the rehabilitation.
“At this juncture, if we create problems, it will cause sufferings for Tamils and affect the rehabilitation works,” he said.
The DMK leader said Tamils, being the followers of the dictum, “All the world is my world, all humanity is my fraternity”, were not against any nationality and attacking pilgrims or undermining tourist and cultural ties was unacceptable.
He said there was a danger that emotionally surcharged actions would result under adverse consequences.
