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”.
