Chandrasekaran: India should involve itself

CHENNAI: P. Chandrasekaran, Sri Lankan Minister of Community Development and Social Inequity Eradication, said on Sunday that it was time for India to reconsider its position on the Sri Lankan ethnic issue.

Instead of remaining a mere observer, it should involve itself in the matter, Mr. Chandrasekaran told The Hindu.

Referring to the Sri Lankan government’s declaration on January 2 that it would regard as invalid the Norwegian-brokered ceasefire with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, Mr. Chandrasekaran, also the president of the Up Country Peoples Front and Worker’s Front, said India, like many other nations, was for a political solution, not a military solution. “Then, why should not India evince interest?” he asked.

He said when Pakistan and China were keen on cooperation with Sri Lanka on the economic and military fronts, there was no need for India to keep away.

He said the Indian government should view the ethnic problem as one concerning the denial of basic human rights to people of Indian origin.

India has the right

The Minister said India being the nearest neighbour had both the resources and the right to intervene. It was for this purpose that in the last few days, he met different leaders of Tamil Nadu including S. Ramadoss of the Pattali Makkal Katchi, K. Veeramani of the Dravidar Kazhagam, R. Sarathkumar of the All-India Samathuva Makkal Katchi and Thol. Thirumavalavan of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal.

He wanted the leaders to impress upon the Centre to change its approach. He also sought audience with Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary, Jayalalithaa.

LTTE should agree for talks

A couple of months ago, Mr. Chandrasekaran held talks with representatives of the LTTE and told them that India would keep away if the LTTE insisted on Tamil Eelam.

Besides, the LTTE should make an open and unqualified apology for the assassination of the former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi. The LTTE’s response was that it was for a federal system and the Rajiv assassination was a thing of the past and there was no point in raking it up.

Source: The Hindu