India playing double game: TNA MP
Saturday, 18 Apr 2009
TNA parliamentarian N. Srikantha said yesterday they were still waiting for details of what transpired at the meeting between the TNA delegation and Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Sankar Menon.
Mr. Srikantha said the delegation led by TNA leader R. Sampanthan went ahead with the meeting despite a majority of MPs objecting to such talks.
“We are not in touch with this delegation since they went despite our opposition. We still accuse India of being dishonest, and for having betrayed the Sri Lankan Tamils. India has stabbed them in the back. India is playing a double game,” he charged.
Mr. Srikantha said they had no faith at all in the Indian government led by Sonia Ghandi.
“We do not expect anything positive from the Indian government at this time. However, if there is anything positive, we will welcome it,” he said.
Mr. Srikantha said the TNA was a single political entity that represented the Tamils in the North and the East and would be ready to talk to President Mahinda Rajapaksa only if he stopped the ongoing military operations as a prelude to finding a political solution.
He said there should be a halt to the military operations to allow the civilians to come out of the safe zone.
“Then, we can discuss each and every issue starting with the civilians’ issue,” he said.
The Indian media had already reported that India had assured the visiting TNA delegation that some action would be taken with regard to the national question in Sri Lanka.
The four-member TNA delegation met Mr. Menon on Thursday despite stiff opposition from other members of the party. The others in the TNA delegation were Suresh Premachandran, Mavai Senathirajah and Selvam Adekkalanathan.
According to the media reports, the TNA delegation had requested the Indian government to bring about a ceasefire in Sri Lanka and ensure the safety of civilians trapped in the safe zone.(DM)