India trusts Lankan Govt’s assurances: Chidambaram

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has said India ‘trusts’ the Sri Lankan government’s assurance 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 were violating the assurance given to India, Mr Chidambaram, at a press meet here last night 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 Supremo 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, Mr Chidambaram said it is an irresponsible remark.” Ms 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 two, Mr Chidambaram said, ‘It must be viewed seriously.’ ”The daring attack on the convoy signals dangerous trend and it shows that subversive and vicious forces were raising their ugly heads again in Tamil Nadu, after their activities were restricted 20 years back,” he said.

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

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

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