DMK council members against alliance with Congress

Several speakers at the DMK's general council meeting Sunday said they were opposed to the party aligning with the Congress for the 2014 parliament elections, a party leader said.

"Several speakers said the party should not align with the Congress to fight the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. They said the party can even go it alone in the elections," a DMK leader told IANS, preferring anonymity.

The DMK came out of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, expressing dissatisfaction at the way the government was handling the Sri Lankan Tamils issue.

However, the party later patched up with the Congress. Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi was re-elected to the Rajya Sabha with Congress support.

The DMK's general council meeting is being held here to discuss the party's strategy for the Lok Sabha polls and other issues.

Party president M. Karunanidhi chaired the meeting that passed several resolutions.

The general council also urged the central government to take steps to set up the second rocket launch site in Tuticorin district.

In another resolution, the DMK urged the union government to move a resolution in the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for a dependable and independent international investigation on the alleged human rights violations and war crimes by the Sri Lankan government against Tamils there.

The DMK also asked the centre to urge the Sri Lankan government to devolve full powers to the Tamils in the island nation.

In another resolution, the DMK urged the central government to hold talks with Singapore so that the fears of Tamils living there are addressed following riots there.