No sympathy for LTTE, says Pranab, rushes to Lanka
'We are for fighting against terrorists & all sorts of terrorism.'
By ET Bureau |
NEW DELHI: AS the Lankan military made substantial progress against LTTE, external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee said that India has no sympathies for terrorists, particularly LTTE.
Highlighting the government���s anti-terror plank, Mr Mukherjee, who left for Sri Lanka on Tuesday to hold talks with the Lankan leadership, clearly spelt out India���s long-standing policy on LTTE that runs contrary to demands made by DMK chief M Karunanidhi asking the Centre to negotiate a ceasefire between LTTE and the Lankan military.
���We are for fighting against terrorists and all sorts of terrorism. Therefore, we have no sympathy for any terrorist activity indulged in by any organisation, particularly LTTE (which) is a banned organisation in India,��� Mr Mukherjee said before his departure to Sri Lanka. At the same time, Mr Mukherjee said that India is concerned about the plight of Tamil civilians who are caught in the crossfire. ``We shall have to see how civilians can be protected and they do not become hapless victims of the situation.���
The external affairs minister said that he is going to discuss these issues with Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa and other leaders. Mr Mukherjee is also set to meet foreign minister Rohitha Bogollagama during the two-day visit.
Mr Mukherjee is likely to push the Lankan leadership to come up with a political settlement to solve the ethnic crisis. New Delhi is all for devolution of powers to Tamils and has been pushing the Lankan government to consider this option within the framework of a united Sri Lanka. Mr Mukherjee is also expected to push the Lankan government to ensure that displaced Tamils civilians are not caught in the offensive and that relief supplies are kept operational.
The government, without changing its long-standing Lanka policy, has been urging the Lankan government to avoid civilian casualties.
Mr Mukherjee���s trip to Sri Lanka is taking place in the backdrop of repeated demands by Mr Karunanidhi asking the Centre to stop the Army offensive and take some steps to alleviate the plight of Tamil civilians caught in the crossfire. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said that he would send external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee to Sri Lanka after a delegation of Tamil political parties had met Mr Singh a couple of months ago.
Talking about the South parties, Mr Mukherjee said that the delegation had ���suggested that India should look into the sad plight of civilian Tamils who have been victims of fight between LTTE and Sri Lankan armed forces.������
Highlighting the government���s anti-terror plank, Mr Mukherjee, who left for Sri Lanka on Tuesday to hold talks with the Lankan leadership, clearly spelt out India���s long-standing policy on LTTE that runs contrary to demands made by DMK chief M Karunanidhi asking the Centre to negotiate a ceasefire between LTTE and the Lankan military.
���We are for fighting against terrorists and all sorts of terrorism. Therefore, we have no sympathy for any terrorist activity indulged in by any organisation, particularly LTTE (which) is a banned organisation in India,��� Mr Mukherjee said before his departure to Sri Lanka. At the same time, Mr Mukherjee said that India is concerned about the plight of Tamil civilians who are caught in the crossfire. ``We shall have to see how civilians can be protected and they do not become hapless victims of the situation.���
The external affairs minister said that he is going to discuss these issues with Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa and other leaders. Mr Mukherjee is also set to meet foreign minister Rohitha Bogollagama during the two-day visit.
Mr Mukherjee is likely to push the Lankan leadership to come up with a political settlement to solve the ethnic crisis. New Delhi is all for devolution of powers to Tamils and has been pushing the Lankan government to consider this option within the framework of a united Sri Lanka. Mr Mukherjee is also expected to push the Lankan government to ensure that displaced Tamils civilians are not caught in the offensive and that relief supplies are kept operational.
The government, without changing its long-standing Lanka policy, has been urging the Lankan government to avoid civilian casualties.
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Mr Mukherjee���s trip to Sri Lanka is taking place in the backdrop of repeated demands by Mr Karunanidhi asking the Centre to stop the Army offensive and take some steps to alleviate the plight of Tamil civilians caught in the crossfire. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said that he would send external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee to Sri Lanka after a delegation of Tamil political parties had met Mr Singh a couple of months ago.
Talking about the South parties, Mr Mukherjee said that the delegation had ���suggested that India should look into the sad plight of civilian Tamils who have been victims of fight between LTTE and Sri Lankan armed forces.������
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