TN CM joins issue with PMK

Joining issue with PMK founder S Ramadoss for his remarks that DMK did not do anything for the Sri Lankan Tamils while in power, Tamil Nadu CM M Karunanidhi said his party lost power twice for supporting the Tamils in the island.

Joining issue with PMK founder S Ramadoss for his remarks that DMK did not do anything for the Sri Lankan Tamils while in power,DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Tuesday said his party lost power twice for supporting the Tamils in the island.

HT Image

In 1976, the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had cited his government's support to Sri Lankan Tamils as one of the reasons for the dismissal of his government and again in 1991 his government was dismissed for the same cause, he said in a statement.

When he was the Chief Minister in 1989, he had spoken to representatives of various Tamil militant groups in a bid to solve the issue, he said.

In 1990, he did not participate in the reception accorded to IPKF, condemning its killings of Sri Lankan Tamils, he said.

All these things happened when the DMK was in power, he said adding somebody might ask why his party did not organise any agitation while in power. DMK had organised a bandh in July 1990, when it was in power, he said.

'Is it justified to say that the DMK is not active in solving the problem', he asked.

He condemned the attacks on Congressmen allegedly by workers of the Sri Lankan Tamils Protection Committee comprising PMK, MDMK and other parties.