March 17, 2013
No point of alliance with UPA if govt doesn't back UN vote against Sri Lanka, Karunanidhi says
March 17, 2013
No point of alliance with UPA if govt doesn't back UN vote against Sri Lanka, Karunanidhi says
CHENNAI: With the countdown to the UNHRC session in Geneva having begun, the DMK, a key constituent of the Congress-led UPA government, on Sunday hardened its stand and threatened to pull out of the government if the Centre failed to take steps to incorporate the amendments to the US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka.
DMK president M Karunanidhi expressed doubts over continuing in the UPA government, if the demands were not met out by the government. "If India doesn't bring these amendments, I doubt if the alliance will continue. It won't continue for sure," he told reporters at a hurriedly convened press conference at Anna Arivalayam, the party headquarters.
Despite intense pressure from its ally, the UPA government has been treading cautiously and has refused to give any categorical assurance. On his part, the DMK chief said, "I am urging these amendments for the Center to take it seriously. If decisions are not taken based on what we are saying then we will be forced to take a decision with a heavy heart for the sake of justice for Tamils".
Having felt "let down" by the Centre for its "poor" response to Lankan issue, the DMK leader said he had sent a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh late Saturday night, seeking his intervention on the DMK's demands. Karunanidhi said the Centre should ensure that the resolution focused on the genocide and war crimes committed on Lankan Tamils by the Sri Lankan army and administrators.
India, he said, should give a strong call for a credible and independent international commission of investigation in a time-bound manner into the allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and violations of international human rights law, international humanitarian law and crime of genocide against the Tamils. "If India maintains silence there can't be a worse injustice to Tamils. That's why we said there is no point in continuing in the alliance," the DMK chief said.
Responding to a query, Karunanidhi said the Centre should move the amendments, irrespective of US accepting it or not. "It will be a big mistake of the Centre, if it fails to urge the US for amendments. It will be a great injustice to the Lankan Tamils," he said. Asked about the Centre's firmness on the Lankan issue, even while it showed keenness in resolving issues in other nations, including Bangladesh, Karunanidhi said, "It is the fate of Tamils."
The DMK chief said none approached him from New Delhi, after his famous threat to pull out of the government.
Courtesy: PTI
