People in India are puzzled about the reason for the breakdown of talks.

Prabhakaran is a man who does not understand democracy. It is difficult to persuade a man like this. He lives in a jungle surrounded by his own people. No one can meet him except a very few. How can you negotiate with him? He claims to represent the Tamil cause. Does he really represent Tamil aspirations? There are other political leaders. He has killed all the Tamil leaders who are not with him. You should know that 39 per cent of Colombo’s population is Tamil. Our deputy mayor of Colombo is Tamil.

Refugees from Sri Lanka are once again coming to India.

The LTTE wants people to go to India. They are organising their passage. We have our refugee camps in those places where the LTTE is powerful. If people don’t obey, then they shoot them in the night.

For all practical purposes, the talks between the government and the LTTE seem to be over.

Prabhakaran is a Sri Lankan and I am ready to meet him. If you come to politics you have to accept everything. I have enough faith I can do it. We are ready to talk to the LTTE, ready to work with them. He is not ready. India has the capacity to persuade this man Prabhakaran to come to the table. I am not for war.