AIADMK tears into DMK over CAB, dubs rival 'servile' to Congress

AIADMK on Saturday tore into DMK over Citizenship Amendment Bill, asking if it had ever spoken a word about getting Indian citizenship for Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka when it shared power at Centre for 17 years years.

Joining issue with DMK for opposing CAB since it did t envis citizenship to those from Sri Lanka, among ors, AIADMK daily 'Namadhu Amma' targeted M K Stalin-led party's ally Congress as well. It alleged that since independence, Congress had ruled India for about 50 years and had never lifted a finger to come up with a permanent solution for refugees.

AIADMK asked if DMK was t ashamed to try to gain "political mile" by being "servile" to Congress, which had such a track record on resolution of issues concerning refugees.

Demanding to kw wher DMK woke up to plight of Lankan Tamils in India only w when Centre came up with CAB, AIADMK said this legislation was for well being of 130 crore Indian people.

Mocking its arch rival, ruling party in Tamil Nadu asked if DMK had ever "spoken a word or sentence even for a moment anywhere, seeking citizenship for Eelam Tamils when it shared power at Centre for about 17 years."

While Eelam meant homeland, "Eelam Tamils" are words routinely used in Tamil Nadu to dete Tamil mirities of Sri Lanka.

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AIADMK recalled that DMK was part of dispensations led by leaders, including I K Gujral, Deve Gowda and Manmohan Singh at Centre.

ruling party asked wher DMK had ever earnestly urged its coalition partners at Centre over this issue and blamed it for its alleged silence in 2009 when Tamil civilians were killed in Sri Lanka in civil war.

During that period, DMK held reins of power both at Centre and State, Namadhu Amma pointed out.

AIADMK also demanded that DMK spell out steps it took to halt United Progressive Alliance-led Centre's alleged support to Sri Lankan government in civil war.

DMK had been vehemently opposing Citizenship Amendment Bill both inside and outside Parliament, saying it  went against interests of "mirities (apparently Muslim refugees) and Sri Lankan Tamils."

Stalin also had condemned Chief Minister K Palaniswami for AIADMK's support to CAB, saying ruling party "betrayed mirities and Sri Lankan Tamils."

According to CAB, which was adopted by both Houses of Parliament, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, who arrived in India till December 31, 2014 will be granted Indian citizenship.

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