Minister seeks action against outfits holding pro-TTE functions

Puducherry, Jun 12 : Pointing out that some political parties and outfits were organising functions with the portrait of slain LTTE leader V Prabhakaran, Union Minister of State for Planning, Parliamentary affairs and culture V Narayanasamy today urged the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry governments to initiate action against them.

Addressing a press conference here, he said the government of India as well as all Tamils have the responsibility to help the war-affected Sri Lankan Tamils for their resettlement.

The issue taken up with the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa by a team of Parliament members. Mr Rajapaksa had given an assurance in this regard. However, organising functions with the portrait of a ''terrorist leader cannot be accepted and it was against the Constitution,'' he said.

Mr Narayansamy also said Prabhakaran, who was the proclaimed offender in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case and the leader of a terrorist outfit, needed to be punished.

The Tamil Nadu and Puducherry governments should initiate steps to put an end to this, failing which such organisations would make people forget Rajiv Gandhi.

Everybody had the responsibilty to fight against terrorism, Mr Narayansamy said, adding formerly, terrorist activities were seen in northern parts of the country. But now, it was intruding into south.

He cited the removal of the railway track today near Villuppuram and said such destructive activities should be curbed.