Accusing UPA government of not realising the "gravity of the situation" on the Lankan Tamils issue, BJP on Sunday said India should immediately ask Colombo to expedite resettlement of internally displaced Tamils and press for devolution of powers as per the Indo-Sri Lanka accord.
Senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters that the party was "disappointed" with External Affairs Minister S M Krishna's statement in Parliament yesterday that the Centre would consider sending another team of Parliamentarians to Sri Lanka to assess the relief work for Tamils displaced in the war between the LTTE and the army.
"We call upon government to send an all-party delegation immediately to visit the camps and meet the people to know the situation there," Naidu said.
A team of MPs from Tamil Nadu had recently visited Sri Lanka to assess the conditions of displaced Tamils. Government should take up the issue of speedy resettlement and follow up on the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord for devolution of powers to ethnic groups, he said.
BJP favours a politically negotiated settlement within the sovereignty and integrity of Sri Lanka. When the issue comes up in Rajya Sabha again, BJP will "confront" the government, he said.
On the Telangana issue, which has led to sporadic violence in Andhra Pradesh, he blamed Congress for the "present chaotic situation" and said it must clearly spell out its stand.
"The BJP will support a Bill (in favour of Telangana) in Parliament," he said adding the Centre should come out with a policy in the matter. PTI
