Parties accuse Centre of being insensitive to Tamils' cause

Calling the Sri Lankan Tamils issue a "national problem", leaders from various political parties, including BJP, today accused the Centre of being "insensitive" to the sufferings of Tamils civilians.

Calling the Sri Lankan Tamils issue a "national problem", leaders from various political parties, including BJP, on Friday accused the Centre of being "insensitive" to the sufferings of Tamils civilians and said only a political solution can resolve the ethnic conflict.

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Addressing a day-long protest fast undertaken by MDMK leader Vaiko here, the leaders, including L K Advani, said the focus of the entire nation at this moment should be towards "ending the sufferings of the innocent" Tamil civilians in neighbouring Sri Lanka.

They also demanded immediate intervention by India to stop the "killing" of Tamils in Sri Lanka and to arrange a ceasefire in the island nation.

"I am sorry to say that those in office in New Delhi are insensitive towards the Sri Lankan Tamils' cause," Advani told hundreds of protesters from Tamil Nadu.

The activists held a day-long fast here to express solidarity with hundreds of thousands of civilians trapped in the war between the Lankan Army and the LTTE in the island's north.

Supporting the Tamils' cause, Advani said BJP wants the issue to be resolved through negotiated political settlement and not by "brutal use of force".

Speaking after breaking his fast, Vaiko accused the UPA government of "participating in the war against Tamils in Sri Lanka" for the past two years.