P Chidambaram meets M Karunanidhi, says PM's CHOGM visit not yet decided

CHENNAI: With political parties in Tamil Nadu stepping up pressure on Centre for boycott of CHOGM at Colombo this month, Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram met DMK chief M Karunanidhi here today and said no decision has been taken as yet on Prime Minister's visit to the meet.

Speaking to reporters after meeting the DMK patriarch at his residence, he termed as "incorrect" media reports on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's likely participation in Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. He stressed that the the subject was still under discussion and a final decision was yet to be taken.

"Media reports are incorrect. The subject is still under discussion. A final decision is yet to be taken. Individual Congress leaders have expressed their opinion," he told reporters.

The Finance Minister however, did not disclose what transpired at the meet.

DMK is among 11 major political parties in Tamil Nadu which have demanded that India boycott the CHOGM and register its strong protest over alleged war crimes against Tamils in Sri Lanka.

The DMK patriarch had recently hardened his stand over the issue, saying "not even a speck of rust should be present at the meet" and also cautioned former ally Congress it would have to "face the consequences" if the PM participates in it.

Congress had aligned with DMK in Tamil Nadu for the last two Lok Sabha elections since 2004.

Though DMK snapped its alliance with UPA on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue in March this year, it continues to maintain political ties with Congress which supported its candidate Kanimozhi in the Rajya Sabha polls.

Tamil Nadu Assembly had also passed a unianimous resolution on October 24, demanding India seek temporary suspension of Sri Lanka from the Commonwealth body and insisting on a "complete" boycott of CHOGM by the Centre, respecting the "sentiments and opinion" of the state's people.

Chidambaram also condemned the alleged rape and murder of Sri Lankan woman media personality Isaipriya and demanded that the island nation's government conduct a probe into the incident and punish those responsible.

"I have seen the Isaipriya video. I believe it's a real video. The Sri Lankan government should punish those responsible," he said.

He was replying to a query on a foreign TV channel's recent clippings of the woman media personality, allegedly killed by Lankan forces.