Take lead ahead of Colombo in Lankan Tamils welfare: DMK

Hinting that India's rehabilitation efforts for Tamils in

post civil war Sri Lanka were "not satisfactory," key UPA partner DMK

today asked the government to take the lead ahead of Colombo to ensure their

welfare.India should also move a resolution in the UN, demanding its

intervention to allow the Tamils to decide their rights, a meeting of the

recently revived Tamil Eelam Supporters' Organisation (TESO), chaired by DMK

chief M Karunanidhi said.Welcoming Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's assurance to

Karunanidhi that India placed the "highest and most important"

priority on resettlement and rehabilitation of displaced Tamils, the TESO

resolution said this would give "some solace" to the people of Tamil

Nadu."At the same time, we believe that India, by proposing

a resolution seeking UN's intervention, will put an end to the present

situation (of Tamils' alleged hardships) and enable them choose their

rights," it said, adding India should take all efforts in this regard.Later, speaking to reporters, Karunanidhi called for more

cooperation from the Centre to address the grievances of the ethnic Tamils,

alleging they had perennially been at the receiving end of the Sinhalese."There is information that it is not satisfactory,"

he said when asked if he was satisfied with India's rehabilitation measures for

the Tamils.India has taken up among others, housing projects for the

Internally Displaced Tamils in the island nation with some of them being handed

over to the beneficiaries on Tuesday.Asking the government to play a proactive role on Tamils'

welfare, the DMK chief said: "the Centre should take the lead ahead of Sri

Lanka in ensuring welfare of Tamils. It should respond and cooperate (to this

demand)," Karunanidhi said.Karunanidhi, who had led a TESO conference here on Aug 12,

2012, said the resolutions adopted in that meeting will be handed over to the

UN by his party Treasurer MK Stalin and DMK MP TR Baalu.An appointment had been sought from the UN Secretary General

and dates for the visit would be finalised after that, he added.