Tamil National Front leader P. Nedumaran yesterday called upon the Government of India to factor in the views of the Sri Lankan Tamils and refugees living in Tamil Nadu while pushing for a political solution to the issue.

Referring to Indian Prime Minster Narendra Modi’s statement to a Tamil National Alliance delegation that he favoured a political solution in Sri Lanka, Nedumaran told journalists in India that a study must be conducted to elicit the views of all Sri Lankan Tamils.

“The results of this study must form the basis for India’s position on the issue of Sri Lankan Tamils whose cultural and linguistic identity are being suppressed by the Sri Lankan government,” he said.

As Sri Lanka and India had denied visas to a United Nations team probing alleged war crimes committed by the island nation during the final stages of the conflict with the LTTE, Nedumaran said the refugees in Tamil Nadu could submit photographic or videographic evidence directly to the investigators, who were based in London.

He also condemned the invitation extended to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to address the U.N. on September 25. “How can a person accused of war crimes be asked to address the U.N.? The Tamil political parties must urge U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon to rescind the invitation immediately.”

On the issue of ‘Pulipaarvai,’ a movie which the Tamil organisations had accused of portraying the LTTE and its slain leader V. Prabhakaran in bad light, Mr. Nedumaran said that several leaders, including himself, had viewed the film in a special screening and had suggested the removal of certain scenes.

The movie should be released only after the suggestions were implemented.

He also called upon the State government to emulate the Kerala government’s move to bring in complete prohibition by 2023. (The Hindu)