Karunanidhi asks for more relief for Tamilians in Sri Lanka

October 15th, 2009 CHENNAI - The resettlement of Tamil refugees would begin soon, Sri Lanka has assured an Indian parliamentary delegation. The ten-member delegation, led by former Union Minister T R Baalu, includes MPs from the Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK), the Congress and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK returned on Wednesday after their four-day visit to the island nation.

July 6th, 2009 NEW DELHI/CHENNAI - Concerned over the plight of the displaced in Sri Lanka's northeast, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Monday announced Rs.500 crore ($100 million) for the rehabilitation and relief of the island nation's internally displaced persons (IDPs). Expressing concern over the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka, Mukherjee announced an allocation of $100 million for the welfare of the around 300,000 Tamil civilians housed in various camps in Sri Lanka following the end of the decades-long insurgency.

July 1st, 2009 CHENNAI - Safety and proper living conditions are the most important issues for the Tamil community in Sri Lanka at the moment, even if it means a change of stand for parties in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said in the assembly Wednesday.

June 19th, 2009 CHENNAI - Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has sought the central government's intervention after the Sri Lankan Navy turned away a ship carrying relief materials from Europe for the internally displaced Tamils in the island nation.

June 18th, 2009 CHENNAI - With Indian fishermen repeatedly being attacked by the Sri Lankan Navy, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi Thursday said the ruling DMK is ready to move a resolution in the assembly to retrieve an island given to Sri Lanka more than three decades ago.

May 26th, 2009 CHENNAI - Though any interference in the internal affairs of another country has to be avoided, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to consider Sri Lanka as a "special case" and intervene to help the Tamils.

May 24th, 2009 CHENNAI - National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.

May 18th, 2009 CHENNAI - DMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi will meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi Tuesday to discuss the formation of the new council of ministers at the centre and secure cabinet berths for his party MPs.

April 29th, 2009 CHENNAI - Union Minister of State for Overseas Indian Affairs M Vayalar Ravi on Wednesday visited Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi at his Gopalapuram residence to enquire about his health after the recent fast he kept for the Sri Lankan Tamil cause.

April 27th, 2009 CHENNAI - Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK chief M. Karunanidhi began a hunger strike here Monday, demanding an immediate ceasefire in Sri Lanka, party sources said.

April 27th, 2009 CHENNAI - Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi ended here Monday a hunger strike he began in the morning to demand a ceasefire in Sri Lanka.

April 27th, 2009 RAJKOT - Congress spokesman and Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma on Monday reiterated the need for equal rights for Sri Lankan Tamils, saying that they should be helped with a healing touch from a humanitarian angle. "There is humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka.

April 21st, 2009 NEW DELHI/CHENNAI - Minister of State for External Affairs, Anand Sharma, said Tuesday that the Indian Government is carefully monitoring the emerging situation in Sri Lanka, and was well aware and concerned about the plight of civilian Tamils in the island nation. He, however, said that Prabhakaran is a proclaimed offender and the LTTE is a terrorist outfit and it should be treated on par with such other organisations," Hiss comment to a television channel came as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi sent a telegram to the Centre warning both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to help halt the war in Lanka.

April 17th, 2009 CHENNAI - Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi Friday said India should sever all ties with Sri Lanka if the island nation does not announce a ceasefire immediately.

January 15th, 2009 CHENNAI - Foreign secretary Shivshankar Menon's ongoing Colombo trip to solve the ethnic minority's tangle in Sri Lanka is important from a Tamil Nadu perspective, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said here Friday.