Congress on Monday assured fasting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi that the UPA Government is devoting "maximum concentration" on the Sri Lankan crisis even as it expressed concern over the health of the DMK chief. It said it wanted to assure every section of the Tamil society that "maximum concern" has been voiced and action taken on the Sri Lankan front by the government including sending emissaries at the top level to Colombo,to ensure security and rehabilitation of Tamil civilians. Party spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said,"Everybody understands that a sovereign country can only request another sovereign country. We have to respect mutual sovereignty. There is international pressure,Indian pressure and diplomacy (at work). These are the only weapons of international relationship". Hoping that things will move according the Indian request on the issue,he said some time has to be given for action on the ground. At the same time,Singhvi said a large part of the harm to Tamil civilians has been caused by LTTE which has used them as human shield. The Congress spokesman also expressed concern over the health of 84-year-old Karunanidhi,who had recently undergone a surgery.
