With the Tamil issue in Sri Lanka fast becoming a key election issue in Tamil Nadu, the UPA government came under intense pressure from its southern allies in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday as they demanded India?s immediate intervention to stop the military offensive against the LTTE in the island nation.
Saying that India cannot force a sovereign government to take a particular line, external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee rejected the demand even as PMK and MDMK, wearing black shirts, walked out of the house in protest.
In his statement, however, Mukherjee denounced the LTTE, saying it had caused ?much damage? to the Tamil community.
Asking LTTE to lay down arms, he said there is a political opportunity after 23 years to restore normalcy in northern Sri Lanka and that India is ready to assist in help in reconstruction and development there. As Mukherjee made a suo motu statement on the situation in Sri Lanka, PMK and MDMK members expressed unhappiness over certain contents of its and demanded its withdrawal.
PMK and MDMK members forced two adjournments by vociferously raising their demands and rushing to the well of House. They finally walked out to register their dissatisfaction even though Mukherjee expressed readiness to make ?corrections? in his statement if there were any ?discrepancies?. In his statement, Mukherjee said ?… Government of India has no instrumentality under which it can force a sovereign government to take a particular action. This is not simply possible.?
Responding to concerns voiced by PMK and MDMK members, Mukherjee underlined that since the matter concerned another country, India has to deal with another sovereign government. He, however, said the house and the government share the ?anger? over killing of civilians in crossfire in conflict zone of Sri Lanka and wants ?the conflict to come to an end.? The government remains concerned over the safety and security of innocent Tamils and was ready to provide all possible help in their evacuation from the conflict zone, the minister said.
Earlier, he said LTTE, a ?proscribed organisation? in India, had caused ?much damage? to Tamil community, even using civilians as human shields. ?As the conflict enters what may be the final phase of military operations, the LTTE would best serve the interest of the Tamils by immediately releasing all civilians and laying down arms,? he said adding that India continued to support a negotiated political settlement in Sri Lanka within the framework of an undivided Sri Lanka acceptable to all the communities, including the Tamil community.