Click to play videoNew Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is fighting a diplomatic battle on both the southern and northern fronts.
Dr Singh - who is burning midnight oil over what to do with Pakistan - has got one more headache to cope with.
He is now being forced to intervene in the affairs of southern neighbour Sri Lanka. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi led a delegation of political leaders from his state demanding immediate intervention by the Centre.
The delegation explained the plight of Tamil minorities who have been caught in the cross-fire between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan military. It urged the Centre to put pressure on the Sri Lankan government not to harm innocent Tamilians in their war against LTTE.
"The Prime Minister has agreed to send Pranab Mukherji to Colombo as soon as possible," said a visibly happy Karunanidhi after the meeting.
But it is not going to be an easy job for the Centre.
It's own room for manoeuver has been reduced after the Mumbai carnage. It can hardly be seen to be asking the Sri Lankans to go easy on their terrorists when it gives the impression of cracking down hard on terrorists hitting India.
Meanwhile, for Karunanidhi, facing anti-incumbency in Tamil Nadu before the Lok Sabha polls, this is the only way of reaching out to the electorate with an emotive plank.
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