27.10.2008
India’s
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that M.Karunanidhi,
the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister had promised that his party
Members of Parliament will not insist on quitting parliament
in the wake of the talks between New Delhi and Colombo
on the civilian suffering in Sri Lanka.
"Karunanidhi
has assured (me) that the DMK will not precipitate the
issue," Mukherjee told reporters after a three-hour
meeting with him.
A
meeting of the DMK and its allies this month resolved
that all MPs from Tamil Nadu will resign if India failed
to convince Sri Lanka to call off its military offensive
against the Tamil Tigers.
Tamil
Nadu leaders say the fighting has seriously affected Tamil
civilians in Sri Lanka's north.
Earlier
in the day, Mukherjee held talks with Sri Lankan President
Mahinda Rajapaksa's advisor Basil Rajapaksa in New Delhi.
"India
will not insist on a ceasefire betwen the Sri Lankan Army
and the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) as we
are not signatories to the ceasefire agreement. Attempts
will be made to ensure a resolution of the issue through
peaceful political process and negotiations," Mukherjee
said.
The
assurance by Karunanidhi to Mukherjee after UPA Chairperson
Sonia Gandhi spoke to the Chief Minister, assumed significance
as DMK and some other Tamil Nadu parties had issued an
ultimatum that all MPs from the state would resign if
the Centre did not take steps to ensure a ceasefire in
Sri Lanka's embattled north by October 29.
DMK
and some of its allies have 24 members in Lok Sabha out
of a total of 39 members from the state to the House.
He
also said that he pointed out to the Chief Minister that
a military solution will not resolve the problems of the
ethnic minority in Sri Lanka.
Mukherjee
said India will send around 800 tonnes of relief material
to Sri Lanka for the affected civilians in the north of
the island.
"The
Sri Lankan government has assured India that it will provide
humanitarian aid to the displaced people in the country
through International Red Cross, government of India and
UN agencies,"he said.
Tamil
Nadu government will also mobilise relief material to
affected Tamil civilians in the northern part of the island.
Courtesy - Asian
Tribune