Bound by Govt. decision on Sri Lanka: Ramadoss

By Our Special Correspondent

SALEM, JUNE 2. The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder, Dr. S. Ramadoss, said here today that as a member of the National Democratic Alliance government his party was bound by any decision taken by the Centre on the Sri Lankan issue. He said that neither his party nor the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) ever exerted any pressure or caused discomfiture to the Central Government on the issue.

Dr. Ramadoss said ``the LTTE and the Sri Lankan Government, with the help of Norway and India, should sit for talks to arrive at a permanent, peaceful political solution to the ethnic crisis.''

Dr. Ramadoss said the Sri Lankan army could not defeat the LTTE, and with all the sophisticated arms and ammunition procured from countries such as Isreal and Pakistan, it could hardly be a match for the ``highly disciplined'' LTTE cadre.

``Based on the realistic assessment of the situation in Sri Lanka, the LTTE has come to the conclusion that only a Tamil Eelam would provide the solution to the ethnic issue. We are also reflecting this view,'' he said.

Opposing any move to ban the proposed rally by the MDMK scheduled on June 5 in Chennai ``to express support for the rights of Sri Lankan Tamils.'' Dr. Ramadoss said the TMC's demand that the rally should not be allowed, was tantamount to seeking a ban on Tamils feelings and sentiments.''

He said the Tamils in India and Sri Lanka had a long history of cultural and linguistic relations lasting over 2,000 years. Such a bond could not be taken lightly or dismissed outright as of no consequence. The TMC had sought to belittle the affinity between the Tamils in the two countries by seeking a ban on the proposed MDMK rally, he charged.

Referring to the freedom struggle launched by Mujibur Rahman, Dr. Ramadoss said that due to the pressure exerted by the West Bengal unit of the Congress(I) and the people of that State on Indira Gandhi, East Pakistan could be liberated from Pakistan (with India's help). The Congress(I) should not lose sight of the historical happening, he said.

Refuting the charge that it was out of fear for the LTTE, the Tamils were fleeing Sri Lanka, he said it was due to the atrocities perpetrated by the Sri Lankan Army on the innocent Tamils'' that the refugee influx had started.

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