Voicing concern over the plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka post the conflict, the CPI(M) today asked the government to play a more active role in rehabilitating and relocating them as per India’s commitment under the peace accord between the two countries.
The demand was made through a memorandum submitted by a CPI(M) delegation to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
“It has been two years since the end of the conflict in Sri Lanka. But still the problems of Tamils in Sri Lanka have not been resolved. Their conditions have worsened according to various reports, including the one conducted by the United Nations,” CPI (M) politburo member Sitaram Yechuri, who was part of the delegation, said.
Presenting a detailed memorandum to Mukherjee in the absence of the Prime Minister, who is currently on a visit to Bangladesh, the party leaders asked the Centre to play an active role in resolving the issues of Sri Lankan Tamils.
“The government must play a much more active role… It is committed, as there is an Indo-Lanka accord. We are committed to the fact that proper political devolution of autonomy to the Tamil populated North and Eastern regions of Sri Lanka must be evolved. It has long long been delayed.
“But right now, on humanitarian grounds, we want immediate relief, relocation of the Tamil population if their homes and huts have been destroyed and rehabilitation of the Tamil people,” Yechury said.
Scores of people, including some CPI(M) leaders from Tamil Nadu, today staged a dharna at Jantar Mantar to press for the demands of Sri Lankan Tamils, said Yechuri