By The Hindu –

DMK president M. Karunanidhi. Photo: R. Ragu

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M. Karunanidhi should explain why his party pulled out of the all-party Parliamentary delegation to Sri Lanka, D. Raja, National Secretary, Communist Party of India, has demanded.

The DMK leader should spell out the reasons for not sending a representative. Was he trying to paint a picture that his party was not party to decisions taken by the Central Government? If so, why was he a part of the ruling coalition?

Mr. Raja was addressing the media in Coimbatore on Monday.

Soon after the Parliamentary delegation returned from the island nation, its members had started speaking in different voices and painted contrasting pictures. Whatever be the ground situation, the Government of India must prevail upon the Government of Sri Lanka to provide a political solution to address the issues concerning the aspirations of the Tamil populace there. And that solution should not just be acceptable to the people but should be taken with their involvement.

Terming the Geneva resolution a warning to the Government of Sri Lanka, he said the CPI would continue to press for a political solution and raise the issue in Parliament.

He then condemned the attack on places of worship there and said the acts were in contravention of Buddhist tenets.

He sought a time-bound investigation into the charges of genocide and war crimes and a report on the fate of missing persons.

By-poll

On the issue of the CPI not contesting the Pudukottai by-election, he said it had nothing to do with the AIADMK’s decision to contest the seat, nor did it say anything about any alliance. When pressed further he said, “We are not in a position to participate in the election.”

In reference to the strike called for by employees on contract with the Neyveli Lignite Corporation, Mr. Raja said the Government of India must concede the workers’ genuine demands, provide them permanent employment and respect the well-established principle – equal pay for equal work. The Government resorting to police action against the agitating workers was unacceptable. He said if the protest continued, power production would dip and Tamil Nadu would further suffer.

Regarding efforts to enumerate migrant workers, especially in places such as Coimbatore and Tirupur, Mr. Raja said the job was best left to the Labour Department and not to the police.