Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, who told him to work towards helping Eelam Tamils achieve self determination and realise their “legitimate aspirations” on Friday.
The Chief Minister handed a memorandum to Mr Modi, who had met with Ms Jayalalithaa in Chennai.
"The process of securing the right to self determination, through democratic decentralization by the 13th amendment ... should be the springboard for Sri Lankan Tamils to eventually realise the aspiration of Tamil Eelam," the memorandum said.
"I strongly urge the (Indian) government to take all possible steps to ensure that the process of democratic decentralization, which is integral to the survival of the Tamils in Sri Lanka, is expedited," the Chief Minister added.
She continued to call on the government “to take necessary measures to bring to book those in Sri Lanka who had perpetrated the genocide on innocent Tamils in Sri Lanka” adding, "I hope the government, as a leader in the region and as a champion of human rights and democracy, will decisively take a bold stand in support of the much discriminated against and long suffering Tamil minorities in Sri Lanka".
The Chief Minister also said “The Government of India should take the initiative in this regard in appropriate international fora like the United Nations Human Rights Council”.
Amongst the other topics discussed in their meeting was the issue of Indian fishermen being assaulted and arrested by the Sri Lankan navy. "Though there have been several resolutions in the first round of talks at Chennai, the second round at Colombo failed due to the obduracy of the Sri Lankan foreign ministry officials,” she told Mr Modi.
The Chief Minister handed a memorandum to Mr Modi, who had met with Ms Jayalalithaa in Chennai.
"The process of securing the right to self determination, through democratic decentralization by the 13th amendment ... should be the springboard for Sri Lankan Tamils to eventually realise the aspiration of Tamil Eelam," the memorandum said.
"I strongly urge the (Indian) government to take all possible steps to ensure that the process of democratic decentralization, which is integral to the survival of the Tamils in Sri Lanka, is expedited," the Chief Minister added.
She continued to call on the government “to take necessary measures to bring to book those in Sri Lanka who had perpetrated the genocide on innocent Tamils in Sri Lanka” adding, "I hope the government, as a leader in the region and as a champion of human rights and democracy, will decisively take a bold stand in support of the much discriminated against and long suffering Tamil minorities in Sri Lanka".
The Chief Minister also said “The Government of India should take the initiative in this regard in appropriate international fora like the United Nations Human Rights Council”.
Amongst the other topics discussed in their meeting was the issue of Indian fishermen being assaulted and arrested by the Sri Lankan navy. "Though there have been several resolutions in the first round of talks at Chennai, the second round at Colombo failed due to the obduracy of the Sri Lankan foreign ministry officials,” she told Mr Modi.