AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa on Saturday criticised the World Classical Tamil Conference and said it was ridiculous to hold it when Sri Lankan Tamils were in distress.
In a statement here, she wanted implementation of 18 charters of demands of the Sri Lankan Tamils before the conference. The demands included rehabilitation of one lakh Tamils in camps in the north, relief for those resettled, rehabilitation of agricultural lands and water bodies, counselling for women and permission for journalists to meet the Tamils.
“After fulfilling these demands, the State government should hold discussions with all the political parties about the conference. This is the expectation of the Tamil community across the world,” Ms. Jayalalithaa said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Though Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had informed Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi about the promise of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa that 47,000 Tamils would be resettled, in reality the Sri Lankan Army was destroying the Tamil identity, she alleged. Mr. Karunanidhi had no right to hold the conference when the Sri Lankan Tamils were leading a pathetic life on a par with people in Ethiopia and Somalia.