Tuesday, March 19, 2013

DMK quits UPA, government says it’s stable




Chennai/New Delhi, March 19, 2013
B. Kolappan

The Hindu DMK president M. Karunanidhi
DMK president M. Karunanidhi on Tuesday announced his party’s decision to quit both the Union Cabinet and the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA), arguing that continuing in the government and the alliance would be great harm to the Sri Lankan Tamils.
Reacting to this announcement, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said in New Delhi there was no threat to the government.
The DMK has 18 members in the Lok Sabha and six members in the Rajya Sabha. The party is represented by one Cabinet Minister — M.K. Alagiri — and four Ministers of State.
Mr. Karunanidhi's decision was welcomed by DMK leaders and cadres, who celebrated it by bursting crackers and raising anti-Congress slogans.
The DMK president alleged that the Indian government not only allowed dilution of the US-sponsored draft resolution against Sri Lanka, but also failed to consider the amendments suggested by the DMK. “It has created situation that will in no way benefit the Sri Lankan Tamils,” he told reporters at the party headquarters, while ruling out the possibility of providing outside support to the UPA government.
He, however, agreed to reconsider his decision if the Parliament adopted a resolution in support of the amendments suggested by him to the draft resolution of the US against the Sri Lankan in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
Mr. Karunanidhi said while the genocide committed by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa had become a topic of discussion in the world forum, India’s failure to understand the gravity of the situation or to remain indifferent to the issue or to express negative opinion was anti-democratic. “It will shut the doors on protests launched by Mahatma Gandhi and Thanthai Selva (Selvanayagam, a Tamil leader in Sri Lanka),” he said.
Mr. Karunanidhi said everyone wanted the United Nations and the UNHRC to analyse the situation in a fair manner and take a decision that would please people from all countries. However, “On the contrary, India also opened its door for these anti-democratic activities and no Tamil with a self-respect will accept it,” he said.
On Monday night, Union Ministers — P. Chidambaram, A.K. Antony and Ghulam Nabi Azad — held parleys with Mr. Karunanidhi, who wanted them to adopt a resolution in the Parliament. But the talks failed to make any breakthrough and Mr. Karunanidhi announced the DMK decision to quit the alliance and the government immediately.
He said the DMK ministers would hand over their resignations on Tuesday or Wednesday. Responding to a question, Mr Karunanishi said he was ready to face Lok Sabha elections.
IANS adds:
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Chidambaram said the UPA government was stable and continued to enjoy majority support in Parliament despite the DMK’s departure.
“The government is stable, the government enjoys majority in the Lok Sabha,” he told the media. “The government is stable and will continue.”
The Congress core group, including president Sonia Gandhi, held a crisis meeting soon after the DMK pullout.
Speaking later, Mr. Chidambaram tried to placate Mr. Karunanidhi by saying the Congress had noted his views and that he was a senior leader who “deserves all respect”.