Click to play videoNew Delhi: India will finally step in to press for the safety of the Tamil population caught in the crossfire between the Sri Lankan army and the LTTE.
According to the External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee who will be in Colombo this evening, the answer is a definite no.
He particularly warned reading any sympathy for LTTE fighters in the move.
"We have no sympathies for any activities indulged in by any terrorist organisation. Particularly, the LTTE is a banned organisation in India. But we are concerned with the plight of the civilians and we shall have to see how the civilians can be protected and they do not become hapless victims of the situation," said Pranab Mukherjee.
Mukherjee also condemned the acts of the LTTE while expressing concern for Tamil civilians in India. Mukherjee told reporters that the purpose of India's intervention in the Sri Lanka offensive against LTTE cadres had nothing but the safety of civilians in mind. Mukherjee is expected to register India's concern over the safety of Tamils caught in the conflict.
Pranab's statements come even as the Sri Lankan army is locked into what could be a decisive battle against the LTTE in the jungles of Mullaitivu.
The fate of more than two lakh civilians holed up in Chalai and Viswamadhu remains uncertain. The Sri Lankan army is advancing on the town of Chalai, which is the last stronghold of the Sea Tigers.
But will India also be pressing for the extradition of LTTE head Prabhakaran wanted for Rajiv Gandhi's assassination is the big question doing the rounds of political circles in the country.
And there are other army columns moving towards Viswamadhu. Here the LTTE is reported to be concentrating its 2,000 hard core fighters. Heavy fighting raged throughout the weekend.
There were reports of the LTTE trying to break through the Sri Lankan army's forward defence lines. The Lankan army on its part claims that all attacks have been repulsed.
CNN-IBN spoke to the chief editor of Thinakaran in Colombo and he said that if Prabhakaran is captured, the Sri Lanka government would want to try him.
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