The Art of Living has launched a massive signature campaign to press the Centre to give Indian citizenship for Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in various camps in Tamil Nadu.
The plan is to collect one crore signatures to champion this cause at every AoL Centre in Tamil Nadu, which
would be submitted to the authorities concerned in 45 days, to take immediate action, Krishnachander,President of state chapter of AoL, formed by Sri Sri Ravishankar, told reporters in Coimbatore on Tuesday.
He said the Indian government has denied citizenship to more than one lakh Sri Lankan refugees 'languishing' in over 100 camps in Tamil Nadu since 1983, who continue to live under pitiable and regimented conditions.
Stating that Sri Lankan Tamils, who had fled to USA and Europe are leading a dignified life, with jobs, homes and businesses of their own, he said the Indian Government has time and again granted citizenship to refugees from neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh.
He recalled that the then chief minister M Karunanidhi had announced his government would take up the issue with the centre when a similar campaign was launched in 2009.
However, no progress had been made since then and the issue was being taken up again on seeing the plight of Tamils, Krishnachander said.