Karunanidhi launches fast on Sri Lankan issue

Karunanidhi launches fast on Sri Lankan issue

Karunanidhi launches fast on Sri Lankan issue

Accused by rivals of failing to ensure ceasefire in Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Monday went on a sudden fast declaring he was ready to be 'yet another victim' of violence in the island nation.
His son Azhagiri also goes on fast in Madurai.
In a surprise move, the 84-year-old Chief Minister drove to the memorial of late C N Annadurai early this morning and sat on a fast there demanding immediate ceasefire in the Sri Lankan army's offensive against the LTTE.
"Let me be one of Rajapaksa's (Sri Lankan President's) victims," he told reporters at the fast site.
"This is my sacrifice on behalf of all Tamils," said Karunanidhi, who recently underwent a major surgery for his back pain.
Sitting on a wheel chair, Karunanidhi said he did not want DMK men to go on a fast. "It is my decision and I do not want others to join," he said even as a host of DMK leaders, including his daughter Kanimozhi and his grand nephew Kalanidhi Maran rushed to spot to see him.
Karunanidhi, who had last week demanded that India should snap relations with Sri Lanka, is said to be unhappy over the Sri Lankan government's rejection of LTTE's offer of ceasefire.
The DMK-led state government and the UPA government at the Centre have been accused by the rivals AIADMK, PMK and MDMK of having failed to end the conflict in Sri Lanka, in which they said, innocent Tamil civilians were being killed.
With elections nearing, AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa has upped the ante saying a separate Tamil elam was the solution for the ongoing conflict.
According to reports, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called Karunanidhi and assured him that the Government is in touch with Sri Lankan authorities and it has asked President Rajapaksa to end the conflict soon.