TNA, Swaraj discuss India’s role to resolve Tamil issue

Saturday, 23 August 2014 00:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

6-member TNA delegation in New Delhi for high-level talks
Set to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today

A delegation of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) called on Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj yesterday, telling the senior minister that India can play a major role in resolving the ethnic Tamil problem in the island nation. “India’s involvement in the resolution of the Sri Lankan Tamil issue is vital,” TNA Leader R. Sampanthan said after meeting Swaraj, the Press Trust of India reported.

“They (people who live in Sri Lanka) have their roots in India. Their culture is Indian and everything is Indian. So I think India is one country that can play a major role,” he said. The delegation comprising of six TNA MPs held discussion on various issues and complained about the alleged attempts by the Sri Lankan Government to change the democratic composition of the Northern Province. “We have explained the position currently prevalent on the ground in the north and the east... The difficulties people are facing, the aggressive program implemented by the Sri Lankan Government to change the democratic composition of the Northern and Eastern Provinces and the cultural and linguistic identity of the areas,” Sampanthan said. Accusing the Sri Lankan Government of being not interested in any political solution, Sampanthan said steps have “not been taken to implement the 13th Amendment for devolving powers to the Tamil minority”. “We have also talked about various other matters that are of concern of Tamil people and requested that some action can be taken by India. India should be pro-active in dealing with these questions,” he stressed. The delegation’s meeting with Swaraj was cordial, he said, adding the MPs are meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi today.