Treat Tamils with dignity: Karunanidhi

Treat Tamils with dignity: Karunanidhi

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader M Karunanidhi on Thursday said the Sri Lankan government should treat Tamils with honour and dignity even if the LTTE was defeated in the ongoing offensive by the island nation's Army.

• Addressing a rally here to protest against the offensive, he said, "Tamils should be given equal rights and powers in the affairs of Sri Lanka. History will not forgive Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, if he illtreats Tamils."

• He said if Mr. Rajapaksa thought that the Tamil race in the island could be annihilated, he would be wrong.

• He said Congress president Sonia Gandhi should emulate her mother-in-law Indira Gandhi, while handling the Sri Lankan Tamils issue.

• "Though the situation might have differed now, Ms. Sonia Gandhi should emulate Indira Gandhi," he said in an obvious reference to the Indian government dropping food packets in the affected areas in the early eighties.

• He appealed to Ms. Gandhi to take "early steps" to prevail upon the Sri Lankan Government to stop its offensive in northern parts of the island. "Please take early steps to stop the war. Respect our sentiments," he said.

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