India will continue to pressure Lanka to protect Tamils: Ravi

Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi today said India would continue to pressure the Sri Lankan Government to ensure the protection of ethnic Tamils in the island nation.      

"The Government of India has to see that civilians are being protected (as) their lives are very precious and we cannot relax on this. We will continue to pressure (Colombo) for the protection of the Tamil people," Ravi said after meeting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi here.      

He called on Karunanidhi to enquire about his health in the wake of his fast on Monday demanding unconditional ceasefire in Sri Lanka. The Chief Minister called it off after the Sri Lankan Government had announced an end to combat operations in the north where the LTTE militants continued to offer resistance from a small strech of land.      

Ravi also criticised Sri Lankan Tamil MP Sivajilingam for allegedly canvassing votes for a BJP candidate in Chennai. The Congress has filed a complaint with the Election Commission against the Tamil MP.