SL issue: Most parties to boycott Tamil Nadu CM's meeting
The all-party meeting, called by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M
Karunanidhi on the Sri Lankan Tamils' issue today (14) has lost much of
its importance with major opposition parties deciding to boycott it.
However, the erstwhile allies of the DMK, the CPI-M, the CPI and the
PMK would be attending the meeting, besides the Congress.
The opposition parties, including the AIADMK, the MDMK, the BJP and
actor-turned politician Vijaykant's outfit DMDK, defended their boycott
of the all party meeting, saying that it would not achieve any "desired"
result.
AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa, while announcing her decision to boycott
the meeting, had said that Karunanidhi was wasting time in convening the
meeting. Instead, he should threaten the UPA government with withdrawal
of support. It alone could persuade the Centre to take effective steps
to stop the Sri Lankan Army action in the Tamil speaking areas of the
island republic, she said.
MDMK chief Vaiko, an ally of the AIADMK, had alleged that Indian
government was extending "tacit" support to the Sri Lankan government in
the current offensive.
DMDK chief Vijaykant had also alleged that the Sri Lankan army had
been trained by the Indian army. He charged Karunanidhi with having no
interest in solving the issue. If AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran was
alive, the problem could have been settled, the actor, popularly called
by his fans as 'Black MGR', said.
The BJP had also decided to boycott the meeting. The BJP's state unit
president L Ganesan said that no problem would be solved by the
all-party meeting. The meeting has the option to call for hartal to
express solidarity with the Sri Lankan Tamils as the Supreme Court
declared holding of bandhs as illegal, he said.
The opposition parties' decision to boycott reflects the divisions
among the political parties on the Lankan issue, political observers
said.
Meanwhile, Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy termed the
meeting as a "flop" since the Principal Opposition party, the AIADMK,
was boycotting it.
"It is bereft of any legitimacy since the AIADMK led by former chief
minister Jayalalithaa has boycotted the meeting," he said in a statement
here.
"The people have a right to protest against this ill-fated all-party
meet since the tax payers money is being wasted," he said. - -
- Agencies
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