MK says he has not agreed for joint patrol of Palk Straits

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today categorically stated in the Assembly that he had not agreed to the proposal for joint patrolling of Palk Strait by the Indian and Sri Lankan Navies.

Replying to a special calling attention motion on the attack on Indian fishermen in high seas, he said when DMK Ministers and functionaries staged a demonstration before the Sri Lankan Consulate here recently, they were informed about the proposal by the Lankan officials.

Stating that it was for the Centre to take a decision in this regard, he saud he had also cautioned then that it should not be an unsuitable alliance like the ''one between a mouse and frog,'' he recalled.

But, there had been a campaign that he had agreed for a joint patrolling and was being criticised for it, the Chief Minister added.

Referring to MDMK General Secretary Vaiko's criticism that he had become a mouthpiece of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Mr Karunanidhi appealed to all political parties to be united on issues of public importance.

All should put in effort to find a solution to issues like Cauvery, reservation and the attack on Tamil fishermen, he said and cautioned the state's interest would be affected if the parties fought with one another.

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