India,Lanka should jointly resolve Tamil issue: DMK

The ruling DMK asked the Centre to work with Colombo to find a permanent solution to the ethnic problem by ensuring full devolution of powers.

The ruling DMK asked the Centre to work with Colombo to find a permanent solution to the ethnic problem by ensuring full devolution of powers and autonomy to north and eastern areas of the island within a timeframe.

It asked the Sri Lankan Government to extend full cooperation in this regard. “As a first step,the Centre should immediately take steps to workout a permanent solution which would ensure full devolution of powers and autonomy to Tamils living in northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka within a timeframe. Sri Lankan Government should extend its full cooperation to this effort,” said a resolution passed at the party’s executive committee meeting.

The meeting,presided over by party President and Tamil Nadu Chief Mininster M Karunanidhi,decided to mobilise public support for the DMK’s stand by holding public meetings and rallies throughout the state from February 7 to 9.

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The DMK has convened an executive committee to formulate its course of action on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue. To counter the Sri Lankan Tamils Protection Movement (SLTPM),floated by pro-LTTE parties like the PMK,MDMK,Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and Tamils National Movement,the meeting decided to form a Sri Lankan Tamils Welfare Rights forum in association with like-minded parties,who wanted a solution to the ethnic struggle in “a democratic way”.

The meeting was held in the backdrop of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s recent visit to Colombo and a general strike called by the SLTPM on Wednesday.

Mukherjee undertook the visit to Colombo after the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution making “a final appeal” to the Centre to intervene and arrange for a ceasefire,the resolution said.

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