Chennai:
Raising the pitch on the Lankan Tamils issue and attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen, DMK chief M Karunanidhi-led Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation staged protests across the state on Thursday demanding that the Centre boycott the Commonwealth meeting slated to be held in Colombo this November.
Criticising the Centre for being 'silent' , the DMK chief, whose party pulled out of the UPA in March last on the Lankan Tamils issue, said it should not dismiss the protests as 'mere gatherings' in various places and "those in power should know that there is a limit to patience."
"Centre should not take this lightly as mere gatherings in Chennai, Tiruchirapalli, Madurai, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Tirunelveli, Coimbatore and Salem. Sri Lanka, too, which is hoping for Centre's support, should not think that way..." Karunanidhi said addressing a gathering in Chennai.
The DMK patriarch alleged that everyday fishermen from the state were being shot, killed and abducted and their catch seized and boats damaged.
"For how many days will the Centre remain silent? .. For how long do we have to tolerate this? .. Those in power should know that there is a limit to patience."
The organisation, revived by Mr Karunanidhi last year, had resolved to press the Centre to boycott the Commonwealth Head of Governments Meeting (CHOGM) in view of the alleged war crimes against Tamils in Sri Lanka in 2009.
It had also called for action from the Centre to take steps to protect Indian fishermen from "being attacked and abducted by the Lankan armed forces."
"If even for this the Centre remains silent, who do we turn to for support and help?" Mr Karunanidhi asked.
He urged the Centre to come forward to protect Tamils, their arts, their culture and fishermen.
TESO had insisted that India take the responsibility in ensuring that the island government did not dilute the 13th Amendment on devolution of powers, which was part of the 1987 Rajiv Gandhi-Jayawardhane accord.