DMK threatens to withdraw ministers over Lankan issue

NEW DELHI: In an attempt to regain his credibility on the Tamil Lankan issue, Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi renewed his call to the Centre to push for an immediate ceasefire in Sri Lanka and threatened to withdraw DMK ministers from the Union Cabinet.

Pushed to the corner by the Sri Lankan government���s refusal to take a step back from the military offensive and the Centre���s reluctance to appear soft on the LTTE, Mr Karunanidhi has clearly been forced into a corner on the issue.
Lashing out at the Centre again, Mr Karunanidhi reissued his threat offering the resignation of DMK ministers from Union Cabinet and demanded a political roadmap for resolution of the ethnic strife.

``Neither DMK nor other parties are heartless enough to ignore sufferings of Tamils in the neighbourhood and cling to power. To press for an immediate ceasefire in Sri Lanka, our ministers in the central cabinet will quit if needed,������ Mr Karunanidhi told the state assembly.

He further said that the Centre should not be fooled by Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa and sought a political roadmap. ���The Centre should analyse (Sri) Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa���s attempts to fool India by the bisection of the Tamils��� issue in the island as a terrorist problem to be dealt with militarily (on the one hand) and offer to safeguard minority civilians (on the other). We should demand a road map for a political negotiation and its aftermath,��� he pointed out.

���Our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should point out to Rajapaksa that several nations (including) India, Pakistan, the US and Britain do not bomb their citizens despite facing (issues of) terrorism,��� Mr Karunanidhi said on the last day of the winter session of the state assembly.

Mr Karunanidhi���s comments come a day after a meeting between Mr Singh and Mr Rajapaksa. Apart from raising concerns on the humanitarian crisis, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had told Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa that there could be no justification for terrorism. New Delhi has followed a Lanka policy that includes pushing for a politically negotiated settlement that is acceptable to all communities while maintaining the anti-terror plank.

Mr Rajapaksa also told Mr Singh that he would not stop the military offensive against LTTE. After the meeting, Mr Rajapaksa said that LTTE could only be `dealt with militarily��� and that there could be no compromise till LTTE laid down arms.

Mr Karunanidhi���s earlier misadventure on the issue is clearly providing fodder for the opposition that took the DMK chief to task for failing to make any headway on the matter. AIADMK deputy leader O Panneerselvam questioned the DMK���s future plans after its ���ambitious moves��� on the issue failed to bring peace in Sri Lanka.

The Tamil Nadu state assembly on Wednesday had voted unanimously on a resolution, which was moved by Mr Karunanidhi, supporting a ceasefire in Lanka, withdrawal of military forces from the North and resolution of the ethnic conflict through talks.