By IANS,
Chennai : India is for a peaceful resolution of the raging conflict in Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala said here Wednesday.
“The government of India has always maintained that war is not a solution to the problem of Sri Lankan Tamils,” Barnala said in an address marking the start of the winter session of the state assembly.
“Appropriate alternative measures like dialogue should be initiated to establish peace to protect (the ethnic minority’s) right to life … and liberty,” Barnala said.
The governor recalled that the people of Tamil Nadu had contributed a large amount of money to provide relief to Sri Lankan Tamils in the wake of the latest military campaign.
The address was boycotted by the main opposition AIADMK party, the MDMK and the two Left parties. PMK members came to the house in black shirts to protest against India’s alleged inaction over Sri Lanka.
The governor also expressed the state government’s opposition to the exclusion of creamy layer from the Other Backward Castes in central government jobs and in admissions to central educational institutions.
The quota ought to be extended to backward castes and Dalits among the minorities, Barnala added.