Karunanidhi joins 'Eelam' bandwagon

Under pressure from its rival AIADMK and others, Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK has jumped into the 'Eelam' bandwagon demanding a separate homeland for Tamils in Sri Lanka. In a bid to match competing rivals, DMK chief and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi said last night that he would make all efforts for creation of 'Eelam'.

"We have ensured a fair quantity of relief for Sri Lankan Tamils. As a next step, they should get Eelam and I assumed responsibilities of making all efforts to ensure that 'Eelam' is created", he said in an appeal to DMK workers.

Karunanidhi's remarks came after AIADMK supremo Jayalaltihaa made a dramatic turnaround from her party's known stand and pitched for a separate homeland for Tamils in Sri Lanka in the election manifesto.

Later, she also said that if the Lok Sabha polls returned a "favourable" government, she would ensure the Indian army was sent to Sri Lanka to help create 'Eelam'. AIADMK's allies in Tamil Nadu include pro-LTTE and pro-Eelam parties like MDMK and PMK.

First Published: May 07, 2009 17:29 IST