MPs’ resignations: Karunanidhi decides to wait till October 28

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Sunday said he would hold on to the resignation letters of DMK MPs till October 28, the deadline set by the all-party meeting to the Centre to end the killing of Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Talking to reporters after DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran handed over his resignation to the Chief Minister, Mr. Karunanidhi said the all-party meeting held on October 14 had fixed two weeks time for the Centre to act.
Asked whether Mr. Maran and the DMK had come together in the interests of the Tamils, all he would say was all the political parties had come together to speak with one voice in support of the Sri Lankan Tamils. Those who had not come together to express solidarity stood exposed, he said. The Chief Minister refused to attach any importance to his meeting with Mr. Maran, saying it was yet another meeting.Strong message
Mr Maran said the resignation of the MPs would send a strong message against the genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka.
To a question whether the meeting would improve the relations with the DMK, he said: “Let us hope so.”
He dismissed as baseless speculation the reports that he was planning to launch a forum in the name of his father, Murasoli Maran.
Later, responding to those who questioned the contribution of the DMK for the welfare of Sri Lankan Tamils, the Chief Minister, in a statement, recalled various agitations, rallies and meeting organised by the party since 1981.
Mr. Karunanidhi also recalled All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa’s statement in 1997 accusing the DMK government of creating law and order problems by allowing the LTTE re-entry into Tamil Nadu. Ms Jayalalithaa’s remarks evoked a strong reaction from PMK leader S. Ramadoss, who defended the DMK government, the Chief Minister said.
Reacting to Ms Jayalalithaa’s allegation that the human chain the DMK and its allies would be organising on October 21 would not serve any purpose, he said the protest would tell the world that people in Tamil Nadu were shedding tears for the Sri Lankan Tamils.
“It will urge the Indian government to take steps to put an end to the atrocities against the Tamils,” he said and called upon the party workers to take part in the human chain in large numbers.
The PMK will participate in the human chain to be held near the office of the DMS in the city, a press release from the DMK headquarters said.(News-The Hindu)