Sushma rules out support to LTTE

COLOMBO, May 24: Indian Information and Communications Minister Sushma Swaraj reiterated today that her government would offer no support to...

COLOMBO, May 24: Indian Information and Communications Minister Sushma Swaraj reiterated today that her government would offer no support to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam LTTE which is waging a separatist war in Sri Lanka. It fully supports the efforts of President Chandrika Kumaratunga to end the conflict, she said.

8220;Our Government is opposed to any and every kind of terrorism. Therefore, government support to LTTE is totally ruled out,8221; she said at a news conference with Indian journalists here.

Swaraj, who left for Chennai after the conclusion of a three-day conference of SAARC Communications Ministers, dismissed speculation here that BJP8217;s alliance partners have on several occasions demonstrated support for the militant group which may force the government to adopt a softline towards it.

8220;Alliance partners may have many independent ideas, but the government is working on a common minimum programme, and when the government is committed to not promoting terrorism in neighbouring countries,it means that alliance partners are also committed to the same thing,8221; she said.

Referring to the efforts of the present Sri Lankan Government to resolve the 15-year-old crisis, Swaraj said her Government fully supported these efforts.

8220;President Kumaratunga is herself engaged in resolving the ethnic conflict. We wish her well in her endeavour,8221; the minister said.

Kumaratunga and Swaraj had a 45-minute meeting on Saturday, but according to the minister, no bilateral issues came up during the discussions. There was also no mention of India8217;s nuclear tests during the meeting. 8220;We discussed women8217;s representation in parliament and the empowerment of women,8221; Swaraj said.

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The minister also confirmed that Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee will attend the SAARC summit in the Sri Lankan Capital in July this year.