New Delhi, Feb 03: Union Health Minister Anbumani
Ramadoss, whose party PMK has strong views on Sri Lankan
Tamils issue, on Tuesday said there should be a "monitored"
ceasefire in the island nation and expressed concern over the
fate of the hapless civilians caught in the crossfire.
He also condemned the shelling of a hospital in
Pudukudiyyiruppu area in Mullaitivu district in northern Lanka
which claimed at least nine lives.
"PMK has been demanding a ceasefire in Sri Lanka.
There should be a ceasefire in that country which should be
monitored," Ramadoss said here.
The agreement should be politically worked out and
monitored, he said.
PMK is an important constituent of the Sri Lankan
Tamils Protection Movement which has called for a statewide
shutdown in Tamil Nadu tomorrow.
"The lives of more than 3 lakh people there (in the
war zone) are at stake...there should be a ceasefire," he
said.
According to Ramadoss, the need for a ceasefire was
not the view of his party alone, but that of many political
parties in Tamil Nadu.
Asked whether his party was part of the ruling UPA,
Ramadoss said "yes...we are very much part of UPA."
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, February 03, 2009, 00:00