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Journalism of Courage
CHENNAI, JUNE 12; Chief minister M. Karunanidhi has clarified that the formula suggested by him to resolve the Sri Lanka crisis was addressed to the Sri Lankan Government and not meant to be imposed on the National Democratic Aalliance Government at the Centre.
“I had said that if one of the three solutions — a quasi-federal set-up, a confederal set-up or a Czechslovakia model — is accepted, it will not pose any threat to South Asia, India, or Tamil Nadu,” he said, adding that he had only offered a suggestion and would not insist that the NDA Government adopt it.
Karunanidhi also accused some sections of the media of publishing only a part of his birthday speech, leading to misunderstanding and misinterpretation.
Explaining how the Tamils were denied their rights in Sri Lanka, the Chief Minister said no neutral party should turn a blind eye to the violent incidents. He alleged that there was no guarantee to the life of the Tamils and safety of Tamil women.
Regretting that the bloody war was still continuing, Karunanidhi said all the political parties had supported the NDA Government’s decision not to send the Army to Lanka.
Karunanidhi said the war had claimed so many lives on both sides and was putting heavy pressure on Tamil Nadu where people were landing as refugees. “Like many others, I had, on behalf of the DMK, expressed the hope that the war would come to an end soon and peace would prevail in the island,” he said.
Earlier, in his birthday speech, Karunanidhi had said that he had asked the Sri Lankan Government to accept any one of his three alternatives and end the war. “Don’t trouble us by sending the refugees. Let peace be maintained in the backyard of India,” was his message to Sri Lanka yet again.
