ID :
57740
Mon, 04/27/2009 - 21:54
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/57740
The shortlink copeid
Karuna launches indefinite fast on Lankan issue
Chennai, Apr 27 (PTI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M
Karunanidhi Monday went an a sudden indefinite fast demanding
immediate ceasefire in Sri Lanka, where troops have closed in
on the remaining strip of Tiger stronghold leaving many Tamil
civilians trapped.
"Let me be one of his (Sri Lankan President Mahinda
Rajapakse's) victims", the 84-year-old DMK patriarch said
after commencing the fast sitting on a wheel chair, a day
after Colombo rejected the LTTE's ceasefire offer, calling it
a "joke".
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke to Karunanidhi over
phone and enquired about his fast, according to Union Minister
and Congress leader G K Vasan who came to the fast site here
in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Accusing the Sri Lankan army of killing the Tamils in the
island nation in the ongoing offensive against the LTTE
(Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam), Karunanidhi said "this
(fast) is my sacrifice for the cause of Tamils".
Karunanidhi, who underwent major surgery for back pain in
February, went to the memorial of C N Annadurai, his political
mentor, and paid floral tributes before going on fast.
After sitting on the wheelchair for sometime, a tired
looking Karunanidhi rested on a bed placed at the fast site.
Two doctors were attending on him.
Soon after Karunanidhi began his fast, his son M K
Azhagiri also launched a fast along with hundreds of DMK
workers in Madurai from where he is contesting the Lok Sabha
elections.
"I was eagerly waiting for an announcement from the Sri
Lankan government throughout last night. I did not even sleep
last night. When nothing came, I decided to become of the
victims of Rajapakse", Karunanidhi told reporters.
As he launched the fast, the DMK chief said "I do not
want DMK men anywhere in the state to fast. It is my
individual decision".
"This is my sacrifice for the cause of Tamils",
Karunanidhi, who had last week demanded snapping of all
diplomatic ties with Sri Lanka if did not heed India's
appeal for ceasefire, said.
Vasan said the "UPA is pressing for a ceasefire in Sri
Lanka.. we are trying our best".
Around 300 DMK workers and leaders including Union
Shipping Minister T R Baalu, Rajya Sabha MP and Karunanidhi's
daughter Kanimozhi and his grand nephew and former Union IT
Minister Dayanidhi Maran were with the DMK President.
The DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhgham) patriarch's abrupt
decision comes days after AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida
Munetra Kazhagam) chief Jayalalithaa made a dramatic shift in
her party's position on the Lankan issue, insisting that only
a Tamil Eelam would end the decades-long ethnic strife.
Karunanidhi and UPA (United Progressive Alliance) had
come under fire from opposition parties in Tamil Nadu, who had
accused them of not doing enough to mitigate the sufferings of
the Sri Lankan Tamils and bring about a ceasefire in the
island nation. PTI
Karunanidhi Monday went an a sudden indefinite fast demanding
immediate ceasefire in Sri Lanka, where troops have closed in
on the remaining strip of Tiger stronghold leaving many Tamil
civilians trapped.
"Let me be one of his (Sri Lankan President Mahinda
Rajapakse's) victims", the 84-year-old DMK patriarch said
after commencing the fast sitting on a wheel chair, a day
after Colombo rejected the LTTE's ceasefire offer, calling it
a "joke".
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke to Karunanidhi over
phone and enquired about his fast, according to Union Minister
and Congress leader G K Vasan who came to the fast site here
in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Accusing the Sri Lankan army of killing the Tamils in the
island nation in the ongoing offensive against the LTTE
(Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam), Karunanidhi said "this
(fast) is my sacrifice for the cause of Tamils".
Karunanidhi, who underwent major surgery for back pain in
February, went to the memorial of C N Annadurai, his political
mentor, and paid floral tributes before going on fast.
After sitting on the wheelchair for sometime, a tired
looking Karunanidhi rested on a bed placed at the fast site.
Two doctors were attending on him.
Soon after Karunanidhi began his fast, his son M K
Azhagiri also launched a fast along with hundreds of DMK
workers in Madurai from where he is contesting the Lok Sabha
elections.
"I was eagerly waiting for an announcement from the Sri
Lankan government throughout last night. I did not even sleep
last night. When nothing came, I decided to become of the
victims of Rajapakse", Karunanidhi told reporters.
As he launched the fast, the DMK chief said "I do not
want DMK men anywhere in the state to fast. It is my
individual decision".
"This is my sacrifice for the cause of Tamils",
Karunanidhi, who had last week demanded snapping of all
diplomatic ties with Sri Lanka if did not heed India's
appeal for ceasefire, said.
Vasan said the "UPA is pressing for a ceasefire in Sri
Lanka.. we are trying our best".
Around 300 DMK workers and leaders including Union
Shipping Minister T R Baalu, Rajya Sabha MP and Karunanidhi's
daughter Kanimozhi and his grand nephew and former Union IT
Minister Dayanidhi Maran were with the DMK President.
The DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhgham) patriarch's abrupt
decision comes days after AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida
Munetra Kazhagam) chief Jayalalithaa made a dramatic shift in
her party's position on the Lankan issue, insisting that only
a Tamil Eelam would end the decades-long ethnic strife.
Karunanidhi and UPA (United Progressive Alliance) had
come under fire from opposition parties in Tamil Nadu, who had
accused them of not doing enough to mitigate the sufferings of
the Sri Lankan Tamils and bring about a ceasefire in the
island nation. PTI
