The DMK has stepped up the pressure on the Centre by convening a high-level meeting on Tuesday to discuss its strategy if the Centre failed to support the US-backed resolution against Sri Lanka.
The resolution, which is to be discussed at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva on March 23, puts Colombo on the mat for its alleged human rights abuses in the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in May 2009.
Cutting across political lines, Tamil parties want the Centre to vote against Lanka in Geneva, to enable an independent investigation on the “war crimes” of the Rajapaksa regime and enable Lankan Tamils to “get justice”.
DMK chief Karunanidhi had earlier threatened that the party could reconsider its support to the Centre if the government failed to vote for US resolution in Geneva.
On Friday, the DMK embarassed the UPA by having its ministers "boycott" the budget presentation. Union minister of state for finance SS Palanimanickam was resting at a picnic resort near Tirunelveli when finanace Pranab Mukherjee presented the budget. The DMK said its ministers were busy campaigning for the Sankarankovil by-poll.
Given the unanimity of the political class on the issue -- with even the local Congress unit demanding support for the resolution -- anything less by the Centre would be considered an affront.
{{/usCountry}}Given the unanimity of the political class on the issue -- with even the local Congress unit demanding support for the resolution -- anything less by the Centre would be considered an affront.
{{/usCountry}}Karunanidhi has not accepted the explanation of external affairs minister SM Krishna that India would not take a stand on any country-specific resolution.
Several parties including the CPI have appealed to the people to "strike" work on March 23 as a token of their support for the cause.
AIADMK chief and CM J Jayalalithaa, too, is piling the pressure on the Centre, writing to PM. She has expressed her severe displeasure against the Centre for its stand on US resolution.