DMK walks out of UPA but govt confident of majority

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the UPA's nine-year-old partner in power, quit the ruling coalition Tuesday, accusing the Centre of disregarding its demand for tough amendments to the US-sponsored draft resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC.

DMK leaders led by T R Baalu met President Pranab Mukherjee late Tuesday night and submitted their letter withdrawing support to the government. Baalu said DMK ministers would hand over their resignations to the Prime Minister on Wednesday.

"Each and everything will be discussed threadbare. Our leader Karunanidhi will advise us and we will act accordingly. We will follow his directions," Baalu said when asked about the possibility of supporting the government from outside.

However, asked whether there was a window still open for the DMK to rejoin the government, Baalu was categorical: "Who said so? May be wishful thinking. After having given the letter where is the chance of a window?"

The one-member Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) also quit along with the DMK's 18 members in the Lok Sabha. But there was no immediate threat to the government as the SP (22) and BSP (21) expressed support.

DMK chief M Karunanidhi alleged that by not bringing in amendments to declare Sri Lanka's war on Tamil rebels as genocide and prosecute those guilty of war crimes and human rights violations, the UN, "and India too", had betrayed Sri Lankan Tamils.

None of the amendments demanded by the DMK was even considered by the government of India, Karunanidhi said. Under the circumstances, it would be grave injustice to all Tamils if the DMK continued in government, he told reporters, reading out a statement from the party.

"So the DMK is withdrawing from the union cabinet and the United Progressive Alliance with immediate effect," he said.

Besides incorporating stringent amendments to the US draft to declare the Lankan war as genocide, the DMK had also demanded a credible international institution to go into these charges and prosecute the guilty - which means trying the Lankan political leadership, starting with President Mahinda Rajapakse.

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