Hopeful of tangible results on Lankan Tamils issue: Vasan

Shipping Minister G K Vasan today said he expected tangible results from the recent dialogue between External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse towards ensuring safety of Tamils in the island and also put an end to attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen.
The talks Khurshid had with Rajapakse on Tamils issue was expected to yield results and lead to safety and restoration of the rights of the ethnic population in that nation, he told reporters here.
"The talks were held in a such a way that there would be a guarantee to the safety and restoring the rights of Sri Lankan Tamils", he said.

Noting that the Union Government has been laying special emphasis on checking attacks on Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy, he said, "I hope the visit of Khurshid will bring a positive end to the troubles faced by Tamil Nadu fishermen."
Vasan sought to remind that whenever the Indian fishermen faced trouble at the hands of Sri Lankan navy authorities, the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee had taken up the issue with the External Affairs Ministry.
When asked whether India would participate in the CHOGAM summit to be hosted by Sri Lanka next month, he said a decision would be taken considering safety, rights and implementation of the 13th Amendment by the Island nation government.

Khurshid had visited Sri Lanka last week and held talks with Rajapakse and other top government leadership on a host of issues, including that of Indian fishermen languishing in jails and devolution of powers to the Tamils provinces.
Vasan avoided a direct reply when asked whether Congress will support DMK in the December four bye-election to Yercaud assembly constituency, but hastened add "after AICC takes a decision, the Tamil Nadu unit of the party would officially announce its stand".
Last week, DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi wrote letters to various political parties including Congress seeking support for its candidate in the bypoll, but left parties have already rejected the request.