Lanka issue is a cause for serious concern: Manmohan
15 Oct 2008, 1854 Hrs

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New Delhi, Oct 15 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that the Lanka issue is a cause for serious concern after Tamil Nadu MPs' warned that they will quit if a solution to the Sri Lankan Tamil problem is not worked out within two weeks.

"We believe, the situation in Sri Lanka does not call for military victory but negotiated, political settlement that respects Sri Lankan sovereignty and human rights of ethnic Tamils," he said.

"We are also concerned about harassment and killing of Indian fishermen in the maritime area between India and Sri Lanka," the PM said.

Earlier, serving an ultimatum to the Centre on the Sri Lankan Tamil problem, an all-party meeting in Tamil Nadu, convened by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, on Tuesday warned that all MPs from the state would resign en masse, if the government failed to halt the war in the island nation within two weeks.

In the strongest ever message from a key ally of the UPA regime, the DMK and other parties demanded that India halt all military aid to Sri Lanka, take steps to halt Colombo's military offensive to ensure the return of peace, and come forward to despatch humanitarian aid. (ANI)