Karuna says will put more pressure on UPA on Tamils issue

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today asserted that his government would put more pressure on UPA Government to prevail upon Sri Lanka to find a permanent political solution to the ethnic strife and confer equal rights to Lankan Tamils on par with the Sinhalese. "Still our concern is the safety and the future of lakhs and lakhs of Tamil civilians, who should live in peace and be given equal rights on par with Sinhalese," Karunanidhi, whose DMK is a key UPA constituent, told reporters.

The DMK chief's comments came before the Sri Lankan army announced that LTTE chief Prabhakaran was shot dead when he tried to stage a dramatic breakout from the army circlement. On LTTE conceding defeat yesterday and announcing that it would 'silence their guns', he said, "If this is true, then the Lankan government should take this opportunity and show interest in bringing about a permanent political solution." On reports that the Lankan government was preparing to allow Sinhalese to settle in Tamil inhabited areas in the island since the war against LTTE was over, he said "If that is the case, we have all the rights and duty to stop it".

Asked whether the Tamils issue was the main reason for Congress' less than expected performance in Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu, he said Congress president Sonia Gandhi had clearly explained her party stand. "When some political parties tried to twist the issue, it failed." In the run up to the Lok Sabha elections, Karunanidhi and his bitter rival AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa had favoured formation of Tamil Eelam.

Earlier, in a resolution adopted at the party's Executive meeting here, the DMK said the Government should prevail upon Sri Lanka to protect the rights of the Tamils and take measures for their peaceful existence. Karunanidhi said even during the elections he had faxed letters to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA President Sonia Gandhi seeking a solution to the ethnic crisis. "Today also I spoke to P Chidambaram on the issue. Even Sri Lankan MP Senathi Raja, who is a friend of LTTE outfit, spoke with me today and explained the situation in Sri Lanka. The information, which he had given to me, was immediately passed on to Delhi for a solution," he said. Karunanidhi said the "liberation struggle" in Lanka gained momentum during the last 50 years and had taken different forms and turns.