We are against Tamil Eelam : BJP

The BJP is opposed to separate Tamil Eelam and the party, on coming to power at the Centre, would ensure equal rights and privileges to the Lankan Tamils on par with their Sinhalese counterparts, party senior leader M Venkaiah Naidu said today.

Talking to newspersons, Mr Naidu, who is here in connection with electioneering, said the BJP, if voted to power at the Centre, would hold talks with the Sri Lankan government to find a solution to the vexed ethnic crisis.

The party would strive for securing equal rights and status to the Tamils on par with Sinhalese in Sri Lanka and ensure that the Tamils lead a dignified life in the island nation, he asserted.

The BJP, which was not in favour of separate Tamil Eelam, would support a solution to the ethnic crisis, within the framework of Sri Lanka, Mr Naidu said.

He said the people in Tamil Nadu were totally unhappy with both the DMK government in Tamil Nadu and the Congress-led UPA government at the centre for failing to protect the lives of the Lankan Tamils.

Mr Naidu said the Lankan government had been launching an offensive against the Tamils for the past five months, but the UPA government remained silent, despite a series of agitations in Tamil Nadu by various parties.

At this age of modern technology and communications, the DMK government was sending telegrams and observing bandhs to prevail upon the UPA government to act on the Lankan Tamils issue, he criticised