Karunanidhi leads the TN team to Delhi on the Sri Lankan Tamil Issue

By Sam Rajappa - TNS

CHENNAI - Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi leads a team of Ministers and party leaders to New Delhi on Wednesday evening to meet with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thudsday December 4, on the Eelam Tamil issue.

Among the leaders of parties who join Mr. Karunanidhi to meet the Prime Minister include K.V. Thangkabalu and D. Sudarssanam (TNCC); S. Ramadoss, G.K. Mani (PMK); K. Veeramani (DK); Thol. Thirumavalavan (VCK); R.M. Veerappan (MGR Kazhagam); Radhika Sarathkumar (AISMK); K. Krishnasamy (PT); and Khader Mohideen (IUML).

Meanwhile DMK general secretary K. Anbazhagan left earlier as he will lead the DMK delegation. Ministers Durai Murugan, K. Ponmudy, E.V. Velu and Arcot N. Veeraswami accompanied Mr. Karunanidhi.

The CPI, even though did not participate in the all party meeting, said it will be part of the delegation to Delhi as “it was a serious issue and it should be resolved”. Karunanidhi and his delegation also will ask Singh to ensure the safety of Tamil Nadu fishermen, who are "repeatedly being harassed by the Sri Lankan Navy".

Earlier mounting the pressure on the Indian Central government over the Eelam Tamils issue, a delegation of 34 MPs from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Tuesday December 2, sought India’s intervention for an immediate ceasefire in Sri Lanka.

The delegation was led by senior DMK member and Union Minister T R Baalu. The MPs also said that India cannot remain a "mute spectator" to the ongoing violence against Tamils.

Assuring them Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said India would do everything possible to find a political solution to the Sri Lankan Tamils’ issue in view of their sufferings due to the ongoing war between the Sri Lanka armed forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).