What a shift in stand it is! Incredible, yet true. Recalling the events that led to the DMK giving up the demand for a separate 'Dravida Nadu', Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has said no action or remarks, provoking Sinhalese majority, should be made in Tamil Nadu as it could affect future prospects of Tamils in Sri Lanka.
The simple truth is that the Sri Lankan Government is in no mood to give equal rights to the millions of Tamils in the Island Nation. In fact. Lakhs of Tamils are now in transit camps, where basic facilities are absent and lakhs of others are homeless.
The Tamils in Sri Lanka look forward to help, assistance and moral support from their brethren in the mainland. And Karunanidhi has chosen to advice restraint. He has said that antagonising the Sinhalese will not be in the interest of Tamils. Nobody wants to unnecessarily antagonise the Sinhalese. The truth is that the Sinhalese do not want Tamils in Sri Lanka to enjoy the same rights and privuileges that they do.
Asserting the rights of Tamils does not amount to provoking the Sinhalese. There is a beautiful Tamil saying, which I hope, Karunanidhi would not have forgotten. “Mayile Mayile Iraku Podu”. It means, no peacock will shed its feather just for the asking. The Sri Lankan Government has, for decades ignored the just demands of lakhs of Tamils there. And Karunanidhi is an honourable leader!
He says, "This is not a conflict between the governments of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka, but of two races, viz. Tamils and Sinhalese. Even Buddhist monks are likely to react strongly to any of our remarks or actions. If we end up saying something against the Sinhalese community, it will only affect the Tamils there."
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