Allies differ on support to Lanka

Chennai, May 3: While Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today told the Assembly that the State Government would not question the nation's forei...

Chennai, May 3: While Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today told the Assembly that the State Government would not question the nation’s foreign policy, NDA allies in the State voiced different opinions.

Reacting to External Affairs Minister Jaswanth Singh’s statement today in New Delhi that the Indian Government would provide humanitarian assistance, but not military assistance, to the Sri Lankan Government, BJP State general secretary L Ganesan said India should initiate a diplomatic intervention.

“We cannot ignore the issue altogether, since we are getting an influx of thousands of Sri Lankan refugees. The External Affairs Minister is clear in stating that India will not provide military assistance. Humanitarian assistance is something which any nation would offer under such circumstances,” he said.

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Meanwhile, in a fax message to Prime Minister A B Vajpayee, PMK leader S Ramadoss said India should not intervene in the Sri Lankan issue at this juncture. “Sending Indian troops to Lanka would mean betraying people of Indian origin in that country,” he said, opposing the Government’s decision to send Chief of Air Force A Y Tipnis to Sri Lanka.

MDMK leader Vaiko, in a statement yesterday, said India should not send its military to Sri Lanka. “The NDA Government will not repeat the mistake made by a former Congress regime,” he had said.

SP leader Azam Khan walks out of jail after 23 months, hundreds of supporters welcome him

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Senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, who is facing multiple cases, walked out of the Sitapur jail today after 23 months. He was scheduled to be released early Tuesday morning, but it was delayed due to impending court proceedings. Hundreds of supporters gathered outside the Sitapur jail, waiting for the SP leader to walk out of prison.

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