Advani dismisses demand for Eelam

He said the Centre was keen that Sri Lankan Tamils get justice in their country. Peace should prevail in Sri Lanka, he said.

He said the government was concerned not only about Tamils in Sri Lanka, but also of all people of Indian origin, wherever they lived.

Advani, who was replying to MDMK leader L Ganesan8217;s request for help to Tamils in the Island Republic, said whenever people of Indian origin are adversely affected, the country would exert diplomatic pressure.

On the Sri Lankan Tamils issue, he said the Centre had decided quot;not to go the IPKF way8217;, in an apparent reference to Rajiv Gandhi8217;s action of sending troops to Sri Lanka.

He said all the constituents of NDA had quot;unreservedlyquot; extended support to the Centre8217;s stand on the issue.

The opposition, which is keen on exploiting the differences of perception among NDA constituents on the Sri Lankan issue to topple the Vajpayee government, is totally disappointed8217; by the consensus reached by the partners on the issue, he said. Advani8217;s participation at the rally was marked by protests by Congress activists. Over 750 Congress volunteers,including TNCC President E V K S Elangovan, were arrested today when they assembled here to stage a black flag demonstration against Union Home Minister L K Advani for participating in the MDMK conference.

Police said the TNCC workers were arrested when they assembled to take out a procession to stage the protest.

The Home Minister, who flew in here from Chennai, landed at a helipad near the conference venue.

The Congress had opposed Advani8217;s participation in the conference alleging that MDMK is a supporter of the outlawed LTTE. But Advani said he was attending the MDMK rally at Erode to explain the Vajpayee government8217;s stand on the Sri Lankan Tamil issue.

quot;The rally will give me a good opportunity to explain why the government has taken its present stand on Sri Lanka,quot; he said referring to criticism over his participation in the conference.

The other reason for attending the rally is that MDMK had been an ally of the Vajpayee government from the outset, Advani told reporters here on his arrival from New Delhi en route to Erode.

He said the NDA government8217;s opponents had failed to drive a wedge between the government and its allies on the Sri Lankan Tamil issue.

quot;They have failed. All our allies have taken the stand that the Centre8217;s policies are correct and sound,quot; Advani said.