Chennai:
Breaking his silence on India's participation in the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting scheduled to take place in Colombo next month, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that a decision on this would be taken only after considering all relevant factors, including sentiments of Tamil people.
"I wish to inform you that a decision on the issue of my participation in the CHOGM conference will be taken only after considering all relevant factors, including the sentiments of your party and the Tamil people," Dr Singh has said in a letter to DMK chief M Karunanidhi.
The PM's response came after senior DMK leader and party's leader in Parliament TR Baalu called on Dr Singh yesterday and informed him about the deteriorating health of pro-Tamil activist K Thiagarajan, who is on an indefinite fast in Chennai since October 1 demanding that India boycott the CHOGM.
Mr Thiagarajan alleges that Sri Lanka is guilty of genocide of Tamils in the island nation. He is the general secretary of the Tamil National Liberation Movement.
In his meeting with the Prime Minister, Mr Baalu also put forth DMK chief M Karunanidhi's demand that India should not participate in the CHOGM.
The Prime Minister urged the DMK chief to persuade the activist to break his fast.
Political parties in Tamil Nadu, including the DMK, have been demanding that the Centre stay away from the CHOGM.
On October 1, the Madras High Court had directed Chennai police to allow Thiagarajan to observe his indefinite fast. He had moved court after he was denied permission by the Police Commissioner.
In March this year, the DMK had quit the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the centre, voicing its dismay over the Indian government's policy on Sri Lanka.