Chennai, Oct 26 (IANS) External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said Sunday that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had promised that his DMK MPs will not insist on quitting parliament in the wake of the talks between New Delhi and Colombo on the civilian suffering in Sri Lanka.
“Karunanidhi has assured (me) that the DMK will not precipitate the issue,” Mukherjee told reporters after a three-hour meeting with him here.
A meeting of the DMK and its allies this month resolved that all MPs from Tamil Nadu will resign if India failed to convince Sri Lanka to call off its military offensive against the Tamil Tigers. Tamil Nadu leaders say the fighting has seriously affected Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka’s north.
Earlier in the day, Mukherjee held talks with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s advisor Basil Rajapaksa in New Delhi.
“India will not insist on a ceasefire betwen the Sri Lankan Army and the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) as we are not signatories to the ceasefire agreement. Attempts will be made to ensure a resolution of the issue through peaceful political process and negotiations,” Mukherjee said.