It's a sham, alleges opposition

NEW DELHI: The war of words over the Lankan crisis has only grown louder.

As M Karunanidhi attempted to steal the thunder by undertaking a six-hour long fast, AIADMK and its Dravidian allies reiterated the demand for a separate Tamil state.

Congress, which came to the aid of the DMK, charged AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa with making ���anti-national and irresponsible��� demands. Ms Jayalalithaa returned the attack with more force and said that she did not require a lesson on patriotism from Congress spokespersons.

���I am not calling for any separate nation to be carved out of Indian territory. I am a patriot to the core. I have stated that a separate Tamil Ealam should be carved out in Sri Lanka. How can that be an anti-national act in India?��� she asked.

The AIADMK chief also said she had not condoned the ���terrorism of militant outfits in the guise of a freedom struggle or repressive, multi-polar violence or genocide unleashed by a government affecting large segments of civilian population.���

Though Ms Jayalalithaa had the support of the PMK on the eelam demanded all major national parties���Congress, BJP and the Left���have spoken out against it. The Left, an ally of AIADMK, has been favouring autonomous region for Tamils and have been opposing the eelam demand. But the non-Congress parties were unanimous that Karunanidhi indulged in ���crass drama��� in Chennai on Monday morning.

Congress refuted the charge saying it was a ���Gandhian form of protest��� and that everyone had the right to express their views. BJP said the chief minister was trying to take the credit for the Sri Lankan government���s ending combat operations.