Vaiko on Thursday blamed Congress president Sonia Gandhi for the killing of innocent Tamils in Sri Lanka and DMK government for stifling the voice of the opposition; Dr S. Ramadas ridiculed Mr Karunanidhi’s plea to the Centre to bring about ceasefire in Lanka; CPI state secretary D. Pandian alleged that Mr Karunanidhi was more interested in saving his government than the lives of thousands of the Lankan Tamils.
Coming under great pressure TN Chief Minister Karunanidhi calls central government to snap diplomatic ties with Sri Lanka; Director Bharathraja calls another hunger strike; A. Sivanandan from Karur attempted to immolate himself and succunbed to burns at hospital; Latest to this, today PMK Leader Ramdas asks, will DMK snap ties with congress, if Government did not snap diplomatic relations with Colombo and attack on Tamils? asks PMK
MDMK general secretary Vaiko on Thursday blamed Congress president and United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi for the killing of innocent Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Addressing the maiden poll rally of AIADMK-led alliance, Mr Vaiko said, “In the three-pronged attack launched by the Lankan government, the lives of over three lakh Tamils are in danger. India is abetting the war by providing weapons, radars and interest free loans to the Lanka.”
Mr Vaiko said the DMK government was stifling the voice of the opposition. “Acting at the instigation of the chief minister, the police lathi-charged the advocates protesting on behalf of the Lankan Tamils in the Madras high court premises.”
PMK founder leader Dr S. Ramadas ridiculed Mr Karunanidhi’s plea to the Centre to bring about ceasefire in Lanka. “In 1998, we submitted a memorandum to the then Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee urging him to press Sri Lankan government to recognise the traditional homeland of Sri Lankan Tamils. The memorandum was signed by AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa, MDMK chief Vaiko and myself,” he recalled.
CPI state secretary D. Pandian alleged that Mr Karunanidhi was more interested in saving his government than the lives of thousands of the Lankan Tamils.
Jeyalalitha launching the AIADMK-led front's election campaign said Karunanidhi had acted on it only after she had issued a statement on reports of Centre supplying military aid and imparting training to the Sri Lankan army. She described as "drama" the moves of Karunanidhi on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue, including resignation of DMK MPs and meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Jayalalitha alleged that Karunanidhi was also making contradictory statements on LTTE chief V Prabhakaran.
Coming under greater pressure over the Sri Lankan Tamils issue after the AIADMK-Left parties opposition front made it a key issue in the coming Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu, the ruling DMK tonight dashed off a missive to the Centre to sever all diplomatic ties with Sri Lanka if India's request for an immediate ceasefire in the Island was not heeded to by the Rajapakshe regime.
In identical telegrams from Chennai on Friday night to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Congress Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the DMK President and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi urged the Government of India "to snap all diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka" if India's latest appeal for ceasefire to the Island-Government "was not honoured and not implemented".
In his Telegram, referring to Mukherjee's significant message earlier in the day to Sri Lanka expressing grave concern over the human tragedy unfolding in the Island's North-East, Karunanidhi said, "We welcome with gratitude the appeal made by the External Affairs Minister for ceasefire in Sri Lanka."
While politicians are squabbling on the Eelam issue, recognized personalities in Tamil Nadu are again to agitate against the war on Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Last week, many women concerned about the humanitarian situation in Vanni, especially worried about the ordeal of women and children in conflict zone, spontaneously formed in to an independent group sans any politics staged fast unto death. Twenty women were on fast unto death and another 100 women supporter on fast on rotation. Tamil National reported on the campaign last Wednesday.
They started their campaign at a spot where Muthukumar's body was kept for public to pay respect. But Police chased them away saying they have no permission to use that place. The women determined to continue their strike until Sonia Gandhi responds to their demands moved to 'Thayakam', MDMK's head quarter building. They are continuing their hunger strike for the sixth day today. Three of the hunger strikers are in a worrying health condition.
Visiting them were, film personalities, Directors Bharathiraja, Amir, Actor Sathyaraj and Poet Arivumathy. Bharathiraja speaking to the reporters from there thundered "Sonia Madam before putting foot on Tamil Nadu for election campaign has to declare that she has ended the war in Eelam, she cannot ask for vote in a funeral house."
Actor Sathyaraj in an appeal to media asked them to interview the women on fast and to give publicity for their campaign, Sathyaraj was visibly emotional when speaking said Tamil National reporter. Sathyaraj pleaded to politicians “ally with anyone for election victory, but rally under one umbrella for Eelam Tamil issue."
Tamil film industry is planning to stage a fast on 21st April, if ceasefire is not declared in Sri Lanka before that date.
The latest from Tamil Nadu Tamil National reporter is about an attempted self immolation. A. Sivanantham 48 year old man from Karur who allegedly attempted to immolate him in front of Chennai Vadapalani Election Commission, calling to save Eelam Tamils had succumbed to burns in a hospital. Earlier it was reported that he had been admitted to hospital with 80%serious burn injuries and in serious condition.
In giving statement to Police from hospital bed he had told "in Sri Lanka, Tamils are being killed, Sri Lanka using gas bombs to kill Tamils, I wanted to immolate myself to the save them."
In Tamil Nadu 12 Eelam Tamil sympathizers immolated themself and eight succumbed to burns, that was started by Muthukumaran.
In the latest squabble, Ramdas asks will DMK snap ties with Congress?
PMK, today (Saturday) sought to know from DMK chief M Karunanidhi whether he would sever ties with the UPA and Congress if the Manmohan Singh Government did not snap diplomatic relations with Colombo and the attack on Tamils in Sri Lanka as demanded by him.
"This was what we (PMK) have been demanding for the last six months, snapping ties with Sri Lanka in view of the continuous war against innocent Tamils there," PMK founder leader Dr S Ramadas has told a press conference today in Chennai.
SATHIYARAJ SAID HE WILL NOT APPOLOGIES FOR USING THIS STAGE...I WILL NOT THANK HIM FOR PERFORMING HIS DUTY AS A THAMILAN...
WE ALL HAVE A HISTORIC DUTY TO PERFORM...SATHIAYARAJ LEADING THE WAY FOR ACTORS..
BARATHIRAJA LEADING THE WAY FOR DIRECTORS...SEEMAN LEADING THE WAY FOR REVOLUTIONARIES...JEYALALITHA LEADING THE WAY FOR POLITITIONS...NEDUMARAN FOR TAMILNADU...TAMILS NEED YOU TO LEAD FOR YOU....TOGETHER FOR TAMILS