BJP has misgivings over relief for Lankan Tamils

http://newstodaynet.com/newsindex.php?id=11800%20&%20section=5

Wed, 29 Oct, 2008,02:44 PM
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Casting some doubts over the ongoing collection of relief fund for Sri Lankan Tamils, BJP State president L Ganesan today wanted to know whether the money would really reach the needy.

Speaking to reporters here, he said the relief materials sent to the tsunami victims in the island nation by the BJP was stopped.

‘Hence we have decided not to collect fund or other things for the affected Tamils. If a positive assurance is given by the authorities, we are ready to do so,’ he said.

Stating that the BJP would find a solution to the Lankan crisis in six months if voted to power, Ganesan said Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had failed to help the ailing people in the neighbouring country even after sharing the power in the Centre for four and half years.

‘At a time when just months are left for the tenure of the Union government, Karunanidhi has made a mockery that his party MPs would resign over the issue.’

The BJP leader said all those speaking in support of the banned LTTE organisation should be arrested.

On the fishermen issue, Ganesan said Pranab Mukherjee’s remarks that the Sri Lankan Navy would no more attack the Indian fisherman showed his ignorance. ‘The fishermen from India are entitled to fish anywhere as per an agreement between India and Lanka,’ he said.

He also said that the DMK should have properly briefed the Centre on the ethnic problem in Sri Lanka, as those in the power were unaware of the issue.

Ganesan said that the Indian government had every right to pressurise Lanka over the issue, as more than one lakh refugees from the neighbouring nation were being fed here.

On the recent remarks by Karunanidhi that the Sethu Samudram Shipping Canal project should be completed soon, the BJP leader said the Chief Minister was not trying to construct a bridge, but to destroy the one constructed by Lord Rama.