The Congress in Tamil Nadu on Monday said it is maintaining restraint against charges of certain political parties targeting it on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue as it wanted "to ensure peace" in the state.
Congress leader Kovai Thangam told the state assembly that the party members were aggrieved by recent incidents of burning effigies of party leaders, party flags and attacks on offices and houses of Congress leaders.
"We are capable of getting down to the streets... But we are maintaining restraint to ensure peace... But if we are continuously provoked we would not hesitate to give them a fitting reply," the MLA said.
Outlining his party's "concern' for the Sri Lankan Tamils, Thangam claimed that Congress was committed to their welfare and has been taking efforts in this regard since the times of the late Indira Gandhi.
"In fact, it was because of the late Rajiv Gandhi's welfare policies for the Lankan Tamils that he was assaulted by a Sinhala soldier during one of his visits to Sri Lanka."
Congress president Sonia Gandhi was also "making all efforts to ensure peace in Sri Lanka," Thangam added.
{{/usCountry}}Congress president Sonia Gandhi was also "making all efforts to ensure peace in Sri Lanka," Thangam added.
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