TN parties condemn blasts in Sri Lanka, say Tamils too hit

Chennai: Political parties in Tamil Nadu on Sunday condemned the near-simultaneous blasts in Sri Lanka which left over 200 people dead and said Tamil people were also hit in the dastardly explosions.

The ruling AIADMK said the blasts have brought indescribable grief and made one shudder at the merciless act carried out when innocent people had gathered to offer prayers.

"We strongly condemn the blasts," the party said in a statement, adding that they took place in areas that had a large population of Tamil Christians.

Conveying their condolences, party top leaders O Panneerselvam and K Palaniswami, said they prayed to the Almighty to strengthen the bereaved to bear with the grief.

"We pray for the brothers and sisters who were killed and for the early recovery of all those injured," they said.

DMK president M K Stalin, in a statement, said the trend of targeting places of worship in several countries-like in New Zealand where an attack took place recently - was a big challenge to humanism that should be thwarted by humanitarian forces.

Noting that Tamils too have been largely affected by the blasts in Sri Lanka, he said: "Justice should expeditiously be rendered to Tamils, other communities and foreigners affected by the blasts in Sri Lanka."

Stalin demanded firm and fair steps from the Lankan government over the blasts that tantamount to allegedly intimidating the Tamils more and aimed at creating a 'permanent fear' in the minds of religious minorities.

He sought identification of forces behind the explosions and punishment for them.

Noted Tamil actress Radikaa Sarathkumar, who had checked out of a hotel just ahead of a blast there, in her twitter handle, said, "OMG bomb blasts in Sri Lanka, God be with all. I just left Colombo Cinnamongrand hotel and it has been bombed, cant believe this, shocking!"

MDMK chief Vaiko, in a statement, demanded stringent punishment to the perpetrators of the crime and noted that places of worship, including the Saint Antony's Church, were located in places where a large number of Tamils lived.

Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam leader T T V Dhinakaran, in a statement, said the blasts were an outcome of cowardice, and were barbaric and unacceptable. "I condole the deaths, and pray for the early recovery of the injured," he said.

PMK chief S Ramadoss, in a press release, said the explosions were shocking and a "painful irony" that it was on Easter Sunday which commemorated the resurrection of Jesus who preached only love.

He urged the Centre to take steps to bring Indians including the Tamil people, home as they were now stranded in the areas of Sri Lanka rocked by explosions.

CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, in a tweet, said,"Terrible news. Condolences to the families of the victims. There is no place for mindless violence in society. #SriLanka."

CPI Tamil Nadu State secretary R Mutharasan demanded immediate action and wondered if the President Maithripala Sirisena government "has lost control."

The blasts struck three churches and luxury hotels frequented by foreigners in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, killing more than 160 people and injuring over 450 others, shattering a decade of peace in the country after the end of the civil war with the LTTE.