India Strives To Create Autonomous States In Sri Lanka To Share Power As Solution For Tamil Issues – Chidambaram

India’s Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said the stand of all parties which had been in power in India was that while respecting the integrity of Sri Lanka, the Tamils should get equal rights in all aspects, and autonomous states should be created, as in India, for sharing power. He said the Centre would strive to find a settlement on these lines adding that there were positive signals from Sri Lanka on finding an amicable and acceptable solution to the issue of Tamils, who are fighting for equal rights.

Delivering the keynote address at the occasion on the first convocation of the Kundrakudi Adigalar College of Education at Kundrakudi yesterday (12th) Mr. Chdambaram had said there were indications of settling the long-pending demands of the Tamils for a respectable and rightful life. He said the government of Sri Lanka has indicated a solution for the national question that would give equal rights to Tamils.

 Speaking regarding the series of Memorandums of Understanding between India and Sri Lanka following the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Mr. Chidambaram said India would construct 50,000 houses for the displaced Tamils and Rs.1,000 crore would be allotted for the purpose. It had committed $800 million to Sri Lanka at simple interest for laying new railway lines and carrying out rehabilitation works. Construction of the Palaly airbase and Kankesandurai port were among the rehabilitation works to which India had committed he added.