DMK patriarch Karunanidhi today condemned the AIADMK government for not participating and voicing its opinion in a meeting convened by the Centre to discuss voluntary repatriation of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees.
Referring to Chief Minister O Panneerselvam's letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that "a conducive atmosphere does not prevail in Sri Lanka for Tamil refugees to return there," he sought to know why it was not voiced in the meet.
"The same opinion could have been voiced in the meet convened by the Centre and an effort could have been made to find a solution to the issue," he said.
The Union government had convened a meet today in Delhi to discuss voluntary repatriation of Sri Lankan refugees and requested Tamil Nadu to send a representative to it.
However, Panneerselvam termed the meet premature and wanted to defer it.
"The Centre's meet was a wonderful opportunity to speak on the status of Sri Lankan Tamils and welfare activities that are needed for them in the light of change of regime in the island nation," the DMK chief said, adding that the opportunity was lost.
"Is it not the duty of the Tamil Nadu government to convey that Sri Lanka should assure that Tamils who return there will be made to live in a good manner?," he asked.
He lambasted the AIADMK government for singing peans for party chief Jayalalithaa, saying that "rather than raising voice for the Tamil refugees by participating in the meet, I condemn the letter offering lame excuse to avoid the meeting."
Both India and Sri Lanka today held talks in Delhi on the voluntary repatriation of Sri Lankan refugees in the country, within days of deciding to "re-engage" on the issue during a meeting between their foreign ministers.
