India should drop move to supply 2 warships to Sri Lanka: DMK

Opposing the Centre's plans to supply two warships to Sri Lanka to strengthen its maritime guarding capabilities, DMK today said that such a move would in no way benefit Indian fishermen and sought withdrawal of the proposal.
Party chief M Karunanidhi said it would strengthen the argument placed by many that India was only helping Sri Lankan government and not the Tamils there or Indian fishermen.
"Indian fishermen will be attacked by Sri Lankan navy from the very ships (proposed to be) given by India for guarding the borders," he said.
Reports in a section of the vernacular media had already described this as adding insult to injury, the DMK supremo said, adding "DMK never believed the criticism (against) Indian government that it aided Sri Lanka in 2009," during the final stages of Ealam War IV war that saw large-scale Tamil civilian casualties.

"While the ships are proposed to be handed over to Sri Lanka in 2017, Indian government should come forward to prevent any such effort in the initial stage itself as well as (refrain from) assisting Sri Lanka," the former state chief minister said replying to a set of questions in party mouthpiece, 'Murasoli.'
India plans to supply two Offshore Patrol Vessels, to be built by Goa-based defence PSU Goa Shipyard Limited, to Sri Lanka by 2017-18.