Observing that fratricide among Tamil groups in Sri Lanka had weakened the Eelam (separate homeland) struggle, DMK chief M Karunanidhi today urged his partymen to dedicate themselves to reviving the cause peacefully as advocated by Mahatma Gandhi.
"The Sri Lankans exploited the fratricide among Tamil groups to emerge victorious, leading to the downfall of the Tamil race," Karunanidhi said about the military victory against the V Prabhakaran-led LTTE.
In a letter to his partymen, the 88-year-old DMK patriarch said downfall and resurgence are common and "whatever has happened to the Tamil race in Eelam (Sri Lanka) it is temporary."
"It is not permanent. And with the hope that it should not become so and the confidence that it would not become so, we have to dedicate ourselves for resurgence of the Tamil race," he said.
The struggle should be on the lines of those professed by Gandhi, DMK founder C N Annadurai, rational leader E V R Periyar and iconic Sri Lankan Tamil leader S J V Chelvanayagam, Karunanidhi said, indicating it should be peaceful and democratic.
Recalling his party's efforts for a ceasefire of the armed conflict between the Lankan Army and the rebel LTTE during 2008-09, he listed out the various communications he had had with the Centre, besides going on a fast for this purpose.
{{/usCountry}}Recalling his party's efforts for a ceasefire of the armed conflict between the Lankan Army and the rebel LTTE during 2008-09, he listed out the various communications he had had with the Centre, besides going on a fast for this purpose.
{{/usCountry}}Often targeted by arch rival AIADMK for the fast, which he had wound up in around eight hours, Karunanidhi said he had ended his protest only after Colombo had announced ceasing of air and heavy artillery operations on Tamil-speaking areas.
He recalled he had withdrawn the fast at Marina Beach following requests from various quarters, including state Congress leaders.