AIADMK to stage protest against DMK on September 25

Chennai: The ruling AIADMK which, is under attack from the DMK on the issue of 'corruption' has decided to retaliate by staging state-wide protests against the opposition party on Sept. 25, holding that party and the Congress, as well, responsible for the genocide in Sri Lanka. Besides, the party has demanded that both the DMK and Congress be tried as "international war criminals."

 "We will hold protest rallies at all district headquarters on Sept.25 condemning the DMK and Congress over the killings of innocent Tamils in Sri Lanka. We will highlight the 'deceit' enacted by these two parties on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue," AIADMK co-convener and Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami said briefing reporters after attending a meeting of his parties district secretaries, along with convener and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam.

 The meeting held at the party headquarters here on Wednesday has demanded that the DMK and Congress be tried as "war criminals" for perpetrating the killings of innocent Tamils during the last phase of the war in Sri Lanka.

 Referring to former President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa's reported remarks recently in New Delhi, the party said he had revealed "information" of Indian assistance to Sri Lankan Army when the "DMK-Congress alliance was ruling" and demanded that an international war crimes probe be launched against those concerned in India.

 It said former chief minister and former party supremo late J Jayalalithaa had in 2010 demanded that DMK, its late chief M. Karunanidhi and Congress should be declared "war criminals" for "being instrumental" in the killing of "innocent Tamils" in the island nation. 

"Now that Rajapaksa has openly admitted to all secrets in this regard, the DMK-Congress coalition government's aiding the killings of one and a half lakh Tamils and rapes of thousands of Tamil women should be treated as war crimes and those involved (here) should be made war criminals and given punishment," the meeting resolved. 

Congress and DMK have faced criticism for India's reported assistance to Sri Lanka in its fight against the LTTE that witnessed heavy civilian Tamil casualties in 2009.

According to Mr. Panneerselvam the DMK and the Congress were responsible for the gruesome killing of innocent Tamils in Sri Lanka.

The district Secretaries meeting was held with Madhusudhanan the chairman presidium in the chair.

 Stalin and his DMK have been staging protest agitations against the ruling party and the leader of the opposition in the Assembly raised his pitch demanding the resignation of 'tainted' Ministers. Aiming to turn the tables against the DMK, the AIADMK has resolved to target it on the emotive Sri Lankan Tamil issue.

Another resolution decided to organise a grand function to commemorate the valedictory of MGR centenary celebrations in the city on Sept. 30. Over seven lakh people are expected to take part in the event.