Minister of state for defence Pallam Raju’s statement that India would continue to train Sri Lankan Army officers in the interests of friendly relations with the neighbouring country has triggered a new heat wave across TN with several political parties and social outfits condemning Delhi’s “insensitivity towards Tamil sentiments”.
Leading the attack, chief minister J. Jayalalithaa wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh conveying the Tamils’ outrage at the Centre continuing to host the Lankan defence personnel at the Indian military training establishments despite repeated objections from her and others in Tamil Nadu since the Lankan Army had killed thousands of innocent Tamils during the Eelam war.
“This betrays the total insensitivity on the part of the Government of India towards the views of my government as well as the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu,” she said.
Key UPA ally DMK on Tuesday accused the Centre of hurting the sentiments of Tamil Nadu as it took strong exception to Mr Raju’s comments.
“It can be construed that the Centre is hurting the sentiments of Tamil Nadu and its people by this reply (of Raju),” DMK chief M Karunanidhi said in a statement.
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Army asked to seize illegal arms
MANOJ ANAND
Guwahati, Aug. 28
Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi here on Tuesday warned the armed rebel groups, including those in ceasefire mode, to restrain from indulging in violence in Bodoland Territorial Council.
Threatening to take stern steps against the rebel groups engaged in peace-talks and found to have been indulging in violence, Mr Gogoi told reporters, “The Army, which was called for maintaining law and order in BTC, has now been given power to seize illegal arms and exuded confidence that results would soon be visible.” He, however, refused to elaborate it saying, “You will see the results soon.”
Bogged down by sporadic incident of violence, Mr Gogoi also accused the BJP and AIUDF of making provocative statements.
Appealing the students and political parties to refrain from calling bandh in larger interest of the state, Mr Gogoi said, “I am not happy about the way in which BJP and All India United Democratic Front (AIDUF) and some other outfits are conducting themselves. I appeal to them not to make any more provocative statements.”
Referring bandh calls by Bajrang Dal on Monday and All Assam Minority Students Union on Tuesday, Mr Gogoi said, “This is not a time to call bandhs. Instead of restoring harmony, bandhs only increase the temper and also affect the economy. I urge all parties and outfits to refrain from calling bandhs.”
Admitting that primary responsibility is of the government to stop the violence, Mr Gogoi said, “A chief minister alone can not stop the violence unless civil society and political parties help him in containing the situation.”