Tamil Nadu begins to change

The Hindustan Times in a headline ‘Lanka had agreed to truce, but not LTTE’ yesterday reported the Tamil Nadu political views over the developments in Sri Lanka’s North had begun to change.

The Report said, “as the parties bid to outdo each other on the issue of Lankan Tamils took a new twist in Chennai, there was a clear signal from Delhi that India did persuade the island nation’s Government to hold the offensive against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam for 48 hours, but the Tigers failed to respond to the peace overture.”

The paper said “the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram voiced “deep concern” over the Lanka situation and called upon Colombo as well as Tamil Tigers to end hostilities.

But, the minister also said only one side — the Lankan Government — should not be expected to halt operations.” “Only when both hands join, can something be done. We’re not able to persuade LTTE to lay down arms,” he said. Mindful of the sentiment in Tamil Nadu, Chidambaram asked both sides to “heed our appeal”.

While Chidambaram and DMDK Leader Vijayakant have expressed strong views against supporting the Congress at the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls if the Centre fails in bring out a ceasefire, TN Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi said he could pull out but the party had been ‘advised by a number of Tamil Leaders against such a radical move, ‘ the paper reported.