M.Karunanidhi assails LTTE today

Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK chief M. Karunanidhi on Tuesday assailed the war strategy adopted by the LTTE as one ‘lacking futuristic vision.’ He accused the Tigers of waging ‘fratricidal’ wars and killing Mathiah, Sri Sabaratnam (TELO), Padmanabha (EPRLF), Amirthalingam, Jotheeswaran (PLOTE), Yogeswaran (TULF), Tamil political scholar Neelan Tiruchelvam and other leaders of Tamil outfits.
Mr Karunanidhi said it was the fratricidal wars and the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi by the LTTE in Tamil Nadu which led to the disintegration of the ‘dream’ of Tamil Eelam. He called the boycott of 2005 Presidential elections by the LTTE as ‘a hasty decision’ which ultimately led to the downfall of the LTTE.
DMK chief, who is on a damage control mission, to retrieve his image of a ‘Tamil Saviour’ recalled his refusal to welcome the IPKF when it reached the shores of Tamil Nadu as part of his ‘show of solidarity’ for the cause of Tamil Eelam. He also recalled the Eelam solidarity public rally held at Madurai in 1986 and pointed out that Velupillai Prabhakaran did not attend that meeting and sent only Thilagar as representative.
The octogenarian chief minister of Tamil Nadu said the LTTE did not listen to his ‘constant’ advice of the need for using intelligence and not just ‘valour.’ He agreed with the recent statements of UNP leader Ranil Wickramasinghe who had said that Velupillai Prabhakaran also was responsible for the outcome of the protracted war.
Mr Karunanidhi mentioned that Rajiv Gandhi wanted to depute Murasoli Maran, Vaiko and him to conduct talks with Velupillai Prabhakaran in 1989. He added that the killing of Rajiv Gandhi on Indian soil had taken the “sheen” of the freedom struggle of Eelam Tamils.
He said the defeat of Ranil Wickramsinghe in 2005 elections to Mahinda Rajapaksa by a margin of 1.81 lakh votes when nearly seven lakh Tamil voters boycotted the polls explained the LTTE’s ‘hastiness’ in decision-making and lack of political foresight. DMK chief’s statement has come at a time when he is desperately trying to hold on to the Congress party for future electoral successes.