Chennai, 18 February (H.S.) : Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) spokesperson T K S Elangovan on Wednesday voiced strong support for Chief Minister M K Stalin’s appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding Indian citizenship for Sri Lankan Tamils.

Speaking to the media, Elangovan emphasized the historical and legal significance of the issue, referencing the 1964 Sirima-Shastri Agreement. He noted that while the pact intended for the repatriation and citizenship of Indian-origin Tamils, the 1983 crisis and India’s non-signatory status to the UN Refugee Protocol have since complicated the legal framework for those residing in the state as refugees.

The DMK spokesperson raised critical questions regarding the consistency of national policy, drawing a direct comparison with the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). He questioned why the benefits extended to Hindus from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh could not be similarly applied to Sri Lankan Tamils who have lived in India for decades.

Chief Minister Stalin had previously urged the Prime Minister to provide a humane legal solution, highlighting that 40 per cent of these residents were born on Indian soil and should not be classified as illegal immigrants.

In his formal request to the Union Government, the Chief Minister sought the removal of administrative barriers that currently keep these individuals in a state of legal uncertainty.

He specifically called for the rescinding of previous administrative instructions that bar citizenship applications and requested the delegation of processing powers to district-level authorities.

The DMK maintains that since these individuals arrived with the approval of the Indian government over 30 years ago, providing them with a clear pathway to citizenship or long-term visa relief is a necessary humanitarian step.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary