AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa today called on the Sri Lankan Government to initiate talks with representatives of Lankan Tamils, barring the LTTE, to find a political solution to end the ethnic conflict and asked the Centre to extend necessary help in this regard.
"The ongoing ethnic war should be brought to an end and the Sri Lankan Government should initiate a dialogue with representatives of Tamils there, barring the LTTE, to find a permanent political solution, so that Tamils can live on equal terms with the majority Sinhalese community," she said in a statement.
"The Indian Government should extend help in this regard," she said.
In her statement, the former chief minister also alleged that some "evil forces" had twisted her earlier remarks that LTTE used Sri Lankan Tamils as "human shields" in the ongoing war with the Lankan army.
She clarified that she had said Sri Lankan Tamils were being killed only because they were being used as human shields by LTTE. "I have not made any remarks against Sri Lankan Tamils or supported the Sri Lankan Army action," she said, in an apparent reference to criticism by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Tol Thirumavalavan that her stand would only help the Lankan Army.
Jayalalithaa said the AIADMK supported the Lankan Tamils’ fight for their right to self determination, but opposed armed struggle.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow TNN on Facebook and Twitter )