Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president BS Gnanadesikan has asked political parties in Tamil Nadu to tone down their pro-Eelam rhetoric in the wake of the landslide victory of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in the recently-held polls to Sri Lanka’s Northern Provincial Council.
He said the TNA victory on the poll plank of achieving political rights for Tamils within a united Sri Lanka was a proof that the stance of the Congress party had been right all along.
“Our stance is in favour of a political solution in a united Sri Lanka. This is also the stance expressed by the Tamil National Alliance president Sambandan and Chief Minister Designate Wigneshwaran,” said Gnanadesikan in a statement on Wednesday.
“For many years, deep distrust and hatred have led to a number of incidents and have disrupted the peaceful life in the island. Now, there is a glimmer of hope that Lankan Tamils will be able to lead happy lives,” he added.
“Some in Tamil Nadu need to understand that their pointless noise and rash challenges will not help one bit to save Sri Lankan Tamils,” said Gnanadesikan, hitting out at politicians who had interpreted the election result as a call for a separate Tamil Eelam.
Gnanadesikan also said the state unit of his party has placed a set of suggestions to External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid to be taken up when he visits Sri Lanka during the first week of October.
The state unit has asked Khurshid to push Sri Lankans for the wholehearted implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution and the withdrawal of the military from Tamil areas. Also on the agenda was a plea to find a lasting solution to the fishermen issue.
In his statement on TNA’s win, PMK leader S Ramadoss, has cited the campaign of island president Mahinda Rajapaksa and his party that a vote for TNA would mean endorsing the demand for Tamil Eelam and a return to the days of war and said the people had answered him through their choice. MDMK leader Vaiko has said the provincial government would not be able to solve the problems of Tamils and only a referendum on Eelam would be the ultimate solution.