DMK quits UPA govt

Hardening its stand on the Lankan Tamils issue, DMK on Tuesday decided to pull out of the UPA government at the Centre for allowing "watering down" of the US resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC and not considering its suggestions on the matter.

A day after three senior Union ministers -- A K Antony, P Chidambaram and Ghulam Nabi Azad met him, DMK chief M Karunanidhi today snapped his party's nine-year long association with UPA and also decided to withdraw his ministers from the government.

After chairing an emergency meeting of TESO, a pro-Tamil organisation revived by him last year, a combative Karunanidhi charged the Mamnohan Singh government with not only allowing "watering down" of the US resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC but also not even considering any of DMK's suggested amendments to that resolution.

"When a situation has been created that will not benefit Ealam Tamils, it will be a big harm to the Tamil race for DMK to continue in government. (therefore) it has been decided that DMK will withdraw from the cabinet and the coalition," he said in a statement read out by him.

Asked whether his party would extend outside support to the Centre, he emphatically said, "Ethuvum kidayathu" (nothing). DMK has 18 Lok Sabha MPs, one cabinet minister and four junior ministers.

Asked whether he would reconsider his decision of quitting the alliance if his demand for a resolution in Parliament was conceded by the Centre, Karunanidhi said, "We are ready to change our opinion."

"We have time till this evening, so also tomorrow and even ahead of March 21. Before that if the resolution is introduced in Parliament as desired by us and taken up for discussion, we are ready to change our opinion" (of withdrawal of support), the 88 year-old leader said.

Recalling his earlier statement that he had aligned with Congress even during crises only to keep communal forces at bay and whether today's decision would benefit them, he said "We are not responsible for that."

Asked whether the Centre has betrayed Tamils, he said "Even UN betrayed, including India."

He said its failure to understand the depth of the Tamils issue or not supporting them or remaining neutral "will close down the democratic ideals propounded by Mahatma Gandhi and (Sri Lankan Tamil veteran) Chelvanayagam."

This would be an "anti-democratic" act, he said. Karunanidhi said his party had expected the UN and its member countries to factor in all the issues and come out with a decision that would soothe all.

On Monday, Congress had rushed three of its senior Ministers A K Antony, P Chidambaram and Ghulam Nabi Azad to mollify Karunanidhi.

At the end of near three hour consultations, the two sides failed to break any ice with Karunanidhi making a fresh demand for Parliament to adopt a resolution on the DMK suggested amendments to the UNHRC resolution.

One of the amendments was to "declare that genocide and war crimes had been committed and inflicted on the Eelam Tamils by the Sri Lankan Army and the administrators."

The second was "establishment of a credible and independent international commission of investigation in a time bound manner into the allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity, violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law and crime of genocide against the Tamils."

Along with the DMK, which has 18 Lok Sabha members, another UPA ally Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) too quit the coalition with its lone MP and party founder Thol Thirumavalavan announcing its decision.

DMK's announcement to quit comes at a time when the state has been witnessing a series of protests by various parties, including by students, over the Sri Lankan Tamils issue with emotions running high.

Meanwhile, the DMK has summoned its key decision-making body, the Executive, under Karunanidhi on March 25 in the backdrop of the latest developments.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday demanded an "independent and credible" inquiry into the violation of human rights in Sri Lanka even as she refused to comment on key UPA ally DMK withdrawing support to the government at the Centre.

Voicing her pain and anguish over the "denial of legitimate political rights" to Sri Lankan Tamils, Gandhi dwelt at length on the issue at the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) meeting in New Delhi.

Gandhi's remarks on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue came ahead of DMK's announcement withdrawing support to UPA.

"I have nothing to say now", Gandhi said when later asked about the pull out by DMK.

"The plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka is close to our hearts. Our support for equal rights and equal protection of the laws to them has been unwavering since the days of Indiraji and Rajivji.

"We are most pained at the manner in which their legitimate political rights continue to be denied to them. We are anguished by reports of unspeakable atrocities on innocent civilians and children, especially during the last days of the conflict in 2009," she said.

The Congress President also spoke on the political challenges before the party ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and impending Assembly polls this year in a number of states besides underlining the need to focus on gender issues including passage of the anti-rape Bill and measures like Lokpal for fighting corruption.

Maintaining that reports of atrocities in Sri Lanka cannot go un-investigated, Gandhi said, "That is why we demand for an independent and credible inquiry into the violation of human rights in Sri Lanka."

She also said that the plight of Indian fishermen, who are being detained or fired upon by the Sri Lankan navy is a matter of great concern.

"A permanent solution to the daily violence against them is also imperative," Gandhi said.

Speaking on gender issues, the Congress President referred to the Delhi gangrape cum murder case and said that after the consensus reached on the anti-rape Bill, "we should make every effort to see that these amendments are approved by both Houses before the recess begins (on March 22).

Asking the party to face the upcoming Assembly elections this year and next Lok Sabha elections in 2014 with "confidence, professionalism and enthusiasm", she asked the partymen to counter the "intemperate and abusive language" and "deliberate falsehoods" of the main opposition party BJP.

The recent terror strikes in Srinagar and Hyderabad also came in for mention in Gandhi's speech.

She said these incidents show that "we simply cannot lower our vigil".

Gandhi said "remarkable progress" has been made in the last few years in Jammu and Kashmir "under the leadership and personal interest taken by the Prime Minister".

The Congress President expressed happiness that one of the key recommendations of the party's sub-group for setting up a national bank for women and women self-help groups (SHGs), found mention in the budget proposals.

She recalled that the party had pledged in the Jaipur declaration that women, particularly those vulnerable, would be provided with a decent pension after the age of 60 years and that destitute, deserted and widowed women between the age of 18 and 60 years are take care of.

Terming as "historic" the Right to Fair Compensation in Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, she said that landowners and landless will benefit significantly and tribal communities will be empowered by this.

Gandhi said the National Food Security Bill is a key commitment in the 2009 manifesto of Congress.

Referring to the Delhi gangrape case, Gandhi said, "A few months ago, we have mourned the loss of a courageous young woman. She became the face of our nation's women--its mothers, its sisters and its daughters. Government immediately constituted a high-powered committee under Justice J S Verma to suggest changes in existing laws to provide for speedy justice and enhanced punishment in cases of sexual assault and atrocities.

"The Cabinet has just approved several far-reaching amendments to the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act...It has taken note of the consensus reached at the all-party meeting. We should make every effort to see that these amendments are approved by both Houses before the recess begins," Gandhi told the MPs.