The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday adopted a unanimous resolution urging the Union government to impose economic sanctions on Sri Lanka till the island nation ensured the resettlement of Tamils displaced by war and minority Tamils get equal rights in all spheres in their country.
Chief minister J. Jayalalithaa who moved the resolution, which was passed unanimously with the support of all parties, including the Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam and its allies, the Congress and the PMK, launched a scathing attack on the DMK, accusing it of betraying the interests of Sri Lankan Tamils by staging several dramas instead of exerting pressure on the Centre to ensure ceasefire in the island.
The resolution also called upon Manmohan Singh to prevail upon the United Nations to declare those who perpetrated war crimes as war criminals.
Replying to the debate after moving the resolution, Ms Jayalailthaa took a dig at DMK chief M. Karunanidhi’s “fast drama” in 2009 demanding ceasefire in Lanka. She said, “He embarked on fast after breakfast and ended it around noon… believing his words that a ceasefire was on, people rushed out of their bunkers only to be killed in aerial raids.”
She also criticised his human chain agitations and announcement of resignation of his party MPs “though he kept the resignation letters with him.”
The DMK-led DPA MP delegation, including Mr. Karunanidhi’s daughter Ms. Kanimozhi, which reviewed the status of Tamils “lodged behind barbed wires,” had feasted with Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, accepted presents from him,” and returned home. “Their claim that Lankan Tamils were doing good was far from truth,” the chief minister stated.
The economic sanctions will rein in Lanka, which has not heeded world opinion on the Tamils issue, she asserted and added if India and other nations impose sanctions, “Sri Lanka has to listen to what we say.”