Jayalalithaa scoffs at ultimatum to Delhi
2008-10-16 08:46:45

Tamil Nadu opposition leader Jayalalithaa Jeyaram has pooh-poohed the ultimatum issued by the ruling DMK and allied parties at an all-party conference, describing it as a political drama.

The DMK, the Congress, the Communist Party and two other parties on Tuesday warned that unless India stopped the war in Sri Lanka and ensured the safety of Tamils within two weeks, some 40 MPs representing the state in the national legislature would resign.

Reports from Tamil Nadu quoted Jayalalithaa as saying that if DMK leader and State Chief Minister Muthuvel Karunanidhi was serious about his two week ultimatum to the Singh government, he should first ask DMK members in the Manmohan Singh cabient to resign.

Jayalalithaa's AIADMK, the BJP and Vaiko's MDMK did not attent the all-party conference. Vaiko, however, said he supported the decision and his party's two MPs would resign if the central government did not comply with the demand within two weeks.

In a symbolic gesture, DMK leader Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi resigned from her Rajya Sabha seat. The DMK is a coaltion partner of the ruling UPA alliance in the centre.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Singh in response to the Tamil Nadu politicians' demand said on Wednesday that the Sri Lanka's government and Tamil Tiger rebels should seek a negotiated settlement to end their conflict.

He said the Sri Lankan conflict did not call for a military victory, and he expressed concern about escalating fighting, civilian casualties and refugees.