Congress will never forgive Tigers- TNCC

RAMANATHAPURAM: Hardening its stand against LTTE supporters, the Tamil Nadu unit of Congress on Thursday said the party will not forgive the Sri Lankan terror outfit for its role in the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi and asserted the Centre would take action against the forces that create problems for India's unity.

"The Centre will take action against any person or organisation that caused a problem to India. We are the first to raise the voice against the forces that created problem to the country's unity," Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) President K V Thangabalu told reporters.

AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa raised her voice against such forces only later, Thangabalu said in an apparent reference to her stand against extending any support to LTTE, which is facing an all-out offensive from the Sri Lankan Army.

MDMK General Secretary Vaiko and film directors Seeman and Ameer were arrested recently for their pro-LTTE speeches after the state Congress leaders demanded action against those supporting the LTTE, Thangabalu claimed.

The Congress leader said the Centre would not interfere in the battle between Sri Lankan Forces and LTTE. "We cannot stop the war that is going on in Sri Lanka."

He, however, said the UPA Government was taking all steps to protect innocent Sri Lankan Tamils caught in the conflict and was interested in implementing the Rajiv-Jayewardene Accord. On charges that India was extending military aid to Sri Lanka, he said radars had been given to the island government only to protect its territory and not to use them against the Tamils.

"It was not possible to use a monitoring equipment to attack the Tamils," he said.

TOI