TNA Parliamentary Party leader R Sampanthan, who is leading a delegation of his party MPs, articulated the views after an hour-long meeting with External Affairs Minister S M Krishna during which efforts to achieve a political solution to the Sri Lankan Tamil questions was discussed at length.
MPs of the TNA, which has emerged as the only credible representative of ethnic Tamils, told Krishna that Tamils in Sri Lanka should be given an opportunity to lead a "dignified life" and there should be no effort to "cheat them again".
Here at the invitation of Krishna for consultations on the process to achieve political solution, the delegation told the Indian side that Tamils have the "genuine right" for a political solution and everyone should respect the traditions which are followed by them.
"If we get assurances that we will not be cheated again and that our people will not be deceived once again, we are ready to walk towards the path of finding a (political) solution. The negativity has to be removed," he said.
Asked whether the TNA was ready to join the Parliamentary Select Committee, he said, "If the PSC has the intention of thrasing out a solution and has an agenda for (arriving at a political solution), we are ready to consider it. But, we are ready to get cheated again."
The TNA has been opposed to joining the PSC, which the Sri Lankan Government has proposed to find out a political solution to the conflict, saying the agenda was not clear.
Sampanthan also claimed that Indian side did not ask them to join the PSC. (More)
