TNA PARLIAMENTARIANS’ DECISION TO REJECT INDIAN FOREIGN SECRETARY’S INVITATION IS FOOLISH AND DETRIMENTAL TO THE CAUSE.
I learn with dismay the decision of the TNA Parliamentarians not to accept the invitation of the Indian Foreign Secretary Shree Shivshankar Menon for a meeting with him next week. Shree Menon would not have extended this invitation without a reasonable cause. All the TNA Parliamentarians know fully well that they have no moral right to represent the Tamils of the North and the East. Yet the Government of India had invited them giving them recognition as representatives of the Tamils, knowing fully well that they are interested not in saving the lives of several thousands trapped in Vanni but only trying to redeem the LTTE. They are duty bound to accept the invitation and place before the Government of India, represented by Shree Shivshankar Menon, their grievances and save our people about whom they had not taken any interest up to now. The TNA is the only organization that had not demanded or even pleaded with the LTTE to allow the people to go anywhere they want. When the casualty rate among the trapped IDPs has disturbingly increased several fold during the pat few weeks the TNA can’t adopt the “dog in the manger” attitude. They must either do it or quit Parliament, declaring their inability to function as people’s representatives.
At a time when all the TNA Parliamentarians should be at the station, surprisingly only ten had met and taken a decision detrimental to the cause and the other 12 are scattered all over the world. As long as they claim to represent the Tamil people they must be prepared to fall at any body’s feet and seek assistance for the liberation of the people, without confronting anybody. I hope they will not repeat the same mistake they made when they rejected the President’s invitation two months back, which if they had attended, a lot of things could have been sorted out.
Mr. Mavai Senathirajah had failed to give proper direction to his colleagues in Parliament. This clearly shows as to what they are up to. In all sincerity I warn the TNA Members of Parliament to keep out of the Tamil Nadu Politics atleast till the Parliamentary elections are over. They should reconsider their earlier decision and go to Delhi to meet the Foreign Secretary.
V. Anandasangaree,
President – TULF.
