23 January 2012 07:31 am
TNA Parliamentarian Suresh Premachandra speaking to the Daily Mirror said that ministers have backtracked on their promise. “Several government ministers including the government cabinet spokesman have made various contradicting statements regarding the devolution of powers. The Indian External Affairs Minister made a public statement to the effect that during his discussions with the President, the President had promised him that the government would implement the 13th amendment and beyond and now many ministers have spoken to the contrary,” he said.
The TNA MP further went on to point out that the government has to date not given any proposal that address grievances. “We gave the government a proposal regarding the issues related to the Tamil community in March 2010 but to this day we have not received a clear response.”
Commenting on the proposed senate council Premachandran said that the council can be a part of a comprehensive solution but not the solution itself. “The senate is designed to share power with a centre, but what the people want is adequate powers to the provinces where the people residing in provinces could look after themselves and go about with their day to day affairs, the senate can be a part of the solution but it cannot be the solution for the ethnic issue itself,” he said. (Hafeel Farisz)