DMK withdraws from UPA: Government to formulate changes in UNHRC draft on Sri Lanka

NEW DELHI: Stating that the Congress party is pained by the denial of rights to Sri Lankan Tamils, Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday said that the party has decided to reach out to other parties for the resolution.

DMK chief wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the Sri Lanka issue, Chidambaram said. I am not sure why the DMK decided to pull out of the alliance, he added.

Chidambaram expects a consensus at the end of the day on the Sri Lanka issue. "India wants a strong message to be sent to Sri Lanka, government has begun to formulate changes in UNHRC draft," he said.

On Tuesday, DMK chief M Karunanidhi announced his party's decision to part ways with the Congress-led coalition at the Centre, increasing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's dependence on SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati to complete the government's tenure.

Yadav and Mayawati, whose parties lend outside support to the ruling coalition, were quick to dispel doubts over the stability of the government even as a senior BJP leader was quick to dub the UPA as the "lamest of all ducks".

Karunanidhi declared in Chennai on Tuesday that his party was pulling out of the UPA in protest against the government's position on a US-backed UN resolution on the Sri Lankan conflict. Later in the day, DMK leader TR Baalu met President Pranab Mukherjee and submitted his party chief's letter withdrawing support to the government. The five DMK Union ministers will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday morning to submit their resignations.

While Mayawati asserted that her party's support to the government would continue, Yadav went to the extent of accusing DMK of practising the "politics of blackmail". Analysts, however, said the two would extract their pound of flesh to ensure the government lasts its course.