News

Tamil Nadu assembly resolution calls for immediate ceasefire
2008-11-12 20:32:26

Chennai – The Tamil Nadu state assembly today passed a unanimous resolution calling on the Manmohan Singh administration to mount pressure on the Sri Lankan government to declare a ceasefire with the LTTE.

The move came a day before Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa is scheduled to meet the Indian Prime Minister on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC summit. Rajapaksa is expected to apprise Singh of the steps being taken by his government to protect civilian Tamils.

The resolution moved by Chief Minister Mutuvel Karunanidhi asked the Centre to "use its good offices," and tell Colombo to go for truce.

Karunanidhi said Prime Minister Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi should take note of the resolution and ensure that the ceasefire demand did not remain just a "dream". "A ceasefire is necessary for the peaceful existence of Tamils in Sri Lanka," he said.

He also called on political parties to sink their differences and asked them to stand united as "it is the unanimous wish of Tamils living the world over that a ceasefire be immediately put in place to ensure that the hardships of Tamils come to an end in Sri Lanka".

The 40-year-long ethnic struggle had rendered many homeless and forced others to flee the country, even as many were killed in the army offensive, Karunanidhi said.

Highlighting the "pro-Sri Lankan Tamils" activities being held in Tamil Nadu by different organisations, he said it was a result of the "impact created on the seven crore Tamils here due to the hardships faced by the Lankan Tamils."

The resolution was passed as Rajapaksa arrived in New Delhi last night to take part in the BIMSTEC summit. Courtesy PTI
.

 
Top to the page  |  E-mail  |  views[1]
 
 

 

 
Reproduction of articles permitted when used without any alterations to contents and a link to the source page.
© Copyright 2008 | Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.Colombo. Sri Lanka. All Rights Reserved.| Site best viewed in IE ver 6.0 @ 1024 x 768 resolution