SL war crimes: TN colleges asked to remain shut after protests

Chennai: Colleges in Tamil Nadu have been asked to remain closed till further orders in view of the growing student protests on alleged human rights violations against Tamils in Sri Lanka. The protests are significant as Tamil parties try to put pressure on India to vote against Lanka in the UN human rights council later this month.

The Indian government has so far remained silent on which way it will vote. The issue was raised in Parliament by the Tamil parties recently.

Meanwhile, mounting pressure on the Centre on its demand to punish 'war criminals' in Sri Lanka, UPA key ally the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Friday threatened to pull out its ministers from the Union Cabinet if its demand to bring in amendments to the US-backed resolution at UNHRC in Geneva was not conceded. "DMK will find it meaningless to continue in the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh-led Cabinet if our demand is not obliged to," party chief M Karunanidhi said in a statement late Friday night.

Meanwhile, UPA key ally DMK on Friday threatened to pull out its ministers from the UPA Cabinet over the issue.

"While so many opinions on the resolution by the US are doing the rounds, DMK insists on Delhi bringing amendments to that motion, wherein those responsible for genocide are identified and an independent international probe is launched against the war-criminals within a specified time frame," he said, reiterating the party's demand.

The DMK has been keeping up the pressure on Delhi to vote in favour of the resolution. Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO), revived by Karunanidhi in 2012, had launched a series of protests, including observing a dawn-to-dusk strike on March 12 to put pressure on the Centre on this issue. The chorus for action against Sri Lanka grew stronger after pictures of slain LTTE chief Prabhakaran's son's cold blooded killing appeared in the media.

(With additional information from PTI)

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