Congress Stands Behind Govt

The Congress yesterday supported the government in whatever steps it thought was necessary in respect of Sri Lanka.

"Only government is privy to certain classified facts. The government has not shared them with us. If they have taken a decision, we support it. But we expect the government to take all the opposition parties into confidence", Congress spokesman Ajit Jogi said.

The party is for a peaceful settlement of ongoing ethnic problem which should be "within the framework of unity and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka". At the same time, the solution must also ensure protection of the legitimate rights of all the ethnic groups in Lanka, Jogi said.

 

The BJP and its allies from Tamil Nadu were opposed to any military intervention in Sri Lanka. MDMK chief Vaicko met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to argue that no military assistance of any form be given to the ethnic-torn island country. Vaiko said after the meeting that he was satisfied with the stand of the government on the Sri Lankan situation. The Congress spokesman expressed his party's deep concern for the grave situation that had developed in Northern Sri Lanka.