MADURAI,
May 11, 2012, The Hindu
The
Hindu BJP leaders
L.K.Advani,Sushma Swaraj, P.Murulidher Rao, L. Ganesan, Pon.Radhakrishnan among
others at the party's 5th Tamil Nadu State Conference in Madurai on Thursday.
Photo: S. James
Leader
of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj on Thursday criticised the demand
for a separate ‘Tamil Eelam' by some political parties in Tamil Nadu, even
though the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) — the main political force of the
Tamils in the island nation — favoured a genuine political solution within a
united Sri Lanka.
Addressing
the fifth State conference of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here, she said
the TNA leader, R. Sampanthan, whom she met as leader of a parliamentary
delegation that went to Sri Lanka recently to study the Tamils' issue,
emphasised that he wanted the Tamils to remain within a united Sri Lanka. He
insisted only on a genuine political settlement.
Mr.
Sampanthan was for a political settlement that would ensure equal rights and a
dignified life for the Tamils, devolution of power and implementation of
recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission. “When such
a respected leader of the Tamils was for a political solution within a united
Sri Lanka, why are some parties here raising the separatist issue?” she asked.
She insisted that the unity and integrity of Sri Lanka be respected the way
India's unity and integrity were respected.
Ms.
Swaraj took a dig at both the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam for having withdrawn their representatives from the
parliamentary panel that visited Sri Lanka. Asserting that it was not a picnic
for the MPs, she said the panel insisted on visiting the internally displaced
people who were kept in camps. “We told them that their visit would have no purpose
at all, if they were not allowed to meet the affected Tamils,” she said.
The
panel visited the affected people and interacted with them without any
interference from the Sri Lankan officials, she said and added that the people
revealed all their problems without any hesitation.
“We
have made it clear to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa that it is not
just Tamil Nadu that is bothered about the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils, but the
entire nation was concerned about them,” she said.
Regretting
that a newspaper had belittled the visit by carrying a photograph of Ms. Swaraj
receiving a gift from the Sri Lankan President, she said the Indian panel had
to show some diplomatic courtesy. “I received it as a representative of the
country and not as an individual. The gifts have been deposited with the
parliamentary treasury. I have not taken it,” she said.
Senior
party leader L.K. Advani said India could become a superpower only when there
was good governance that promoted welfare of the common man and ensured the
security of the country in all aspects.
Tracing
the evolution of the party, he said from being one of the four recognised
political parties after the 1952 general elections, it had grown to become a
strong alternative force to the Congress. “Any party, like an army fighting a
battle, should have besides good general and commanders, a sound strategy and a
clear vision.” The party had fought the denial of equal rights for Indian
citizens in Jammu and Kashmir as guaranteed by the Constitution. Later, the BJP
formed a strategy to fight the mighty congress that was posing danger to
democracy. “We sought support from all the non-Congress parties,” he said. On
the strategy that worked for the success of the party, he said the yatras taken
out by party leaders contributed a lot.
