India trusts Lanka to not attack Tamils: PC

Karaikudi (Tamil Nadu): Home Minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday said India ‘trusts’ the Sri Lankan government assurances that its army will not use heavy calibre guns and aerial attacks against innocent Tamils in the ongoing offensive against the LTTE.

Replying to a question on reports that the Sri Lankan government is violating the assurance given to India, Chidambaram, at a press meet said, “We believe that the Lankan government will keep its assurances to India”.

Taking objection on the reported remarks of former chief minister and AIADMK chief J Jayalalitha that “Indian army will be sent to Sri Lanka to create a separate Tamil Eelam, if a favourable government assumes office at the Centre after the Lok Sabha polls, like Bangladesh was liberated by Indira Gandhi,” the Home Minister said it is an “irresponsible remark”.

“Jayalalitha should fully study the history of how Bangladesh was created in 1971,” he added.

Strongly condemning the attack on an Indian army convoy by pro-LTTE outfit Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (PDK) at Coimbatore on May 2, Chidambaram said: “It must be viewed seriously”.

Asked whether the Government would ban the PDK, he said the Centre would assess all aspects.

Turning to politics, Chidambaram claimed that the Congress was leading after the end of three phases of Lok Sabha elections.

He said the party would be at the forefront after the completion of five phases of General Elections 2009.

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