dmk

The general strike called by ruling DMK on Thursday on the Lankan Tamils issue has evoked a mixed response with its allies including Congress backing it but AIADMK and its partners refusing to take part, slamming it as a "farce".

Chief Minister and DMK President M Karunanidhi, under mounting pressure ahead of the Lok Sabha polls for not doing enough on the Lankan issue, last night gave the strike call to protest the 'killings of innocent Tamils in Sri Lanka' and to demand immediate steps for a ceasefire.

The Congress on Tuesday called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Sri Lanka.

Asked to react on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s demand that the Centre issue an ultimatum to Sri Lanka to declare an “immediate and permanent ceasefire,” Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan said: “We are demanding cessation of hostilities.”

When queried persistently whether the Congress agreed with Mr. Karunanidhi’s demand for a ceasefire, Ms. Natarajan insisted on using the formulation “cessation of hostilities” instead.

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government on Friday urged the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to respond to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s announcement of a 48-hour “ceasefire” to release civilians in the war zone.