Ramadoss criticises Karuna on Lankan Tamils statement

Founder of pro-Ealam PMK, Dr S Ramadoss, on Saturday criticised DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi for his statement that there was no unity in the state on Sri Lankan Tamils issue.

Founder of pro-Ealam PMK, Dr S Ramadoss, on Saturday criticised DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi for his statement that there was no unity in the state on Sri Lankan Tamils issue.

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In his address at the end of his party's women's wing rally here in support of Sri Lankan Tamils, Ramadoss said, "entire Tamil film industry turned up, advocates continuously raised the issue, students joined hands, and a whole lot of people took up the issue and the entire state stood united."

Ramadoss, however said that when there was a show of unity on the issue, police cracked down and detained a film personality under National Security Act. The veteran leader was referring to the detention of film director Seeman under NSA for airing "provocative remarks" while participating in a public meeting on the matter.

Karunanidhi had on Thursday lamented the 'differences' among parties in the state on this issue and said they should work together "at least henceforth" for their (Sri Lankan Tamils) benefit.

Even his party, which had quit the DMK combine last year, had extended cooperation to DMK's efforts on the Tamils issue, Ramadoss said.

Referring to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's statement that the island nation was fighting India's war by fighting the LTTE, Ramadoss said why had India not responded to this. "Even Karunanidhi had not made any statement," he said.