Cong hopeful DMK will reconsider decision to withdraw support

Congress today held out hope that the DMK would reconsider its decision to withdraw support to the UPA government at the Centre.

"The discussions are still on. So, it is premature for us to comment on it," party spokesperson Renuka Chowdhary said.

She was asked to comment on the announcement of withdrawal of support by the DMK from the UPA over the issue of alleged human rights violations of Tamils in Sri Lanka.

DMK Chief K Karunanidhi has stated that his party was ready to reconsider its decision if the Parliament adopts a resolution before March 21 incorporating two amendments he had suggested to be moved on the US-backed resolution at the UN Human Rights Commission.

DMK today announced its decision to pull out of the UPA government at the Centre for allowing "watering down" of the US resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC and not considering its suggestions on the matter.

A day after three senior Union ministers -- A K Antony, P Chidambaram and Ghulam Nabi Azad met him, Karunanidhi snapped his party's nine-year long association with UPA and also decided to withdraw his ministers from the government.

After chairing an emergency meeting of TESO, a pro-Tamil organisation revived by him last year, a combative Karunanidhi charged the Mamnohan Singh government with not only allowing "watering down" of the US resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC but also not even considering any of DMK's suggested amendments to that resolution.