Prabhakaran was not our enemy: Chidambaram

Virudhunagar(TN), Jul 18 (PTI) Indian Home Minister P
Chidambaram has said slain LTTE leader V Prabhakaran would
have been "Mudisooda Mannan" (uncrowned monarch) of the
northern and eastern provinces of Sri Lanka had he accepted
the 1987 Indo-Sri Lankan agreement as requested by former
Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Addressing a public meeting here on Saturday night,
Chidambaram said he had met Prabhakaran and talked with him
for hours. "He (Prabhakaran) was not our enemy. We were
opposed to the path chosen by him."
Virudhunagar is the home constituency of Marumalarchi
Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (MDMK) chief Vaiko, a known LTTE
supporter. Vaiko was defeated by Congress nominee Manick
Tagore by 15,000 votes in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.
Chidambaram said a country needs peace for development.
"Violence and rioting will not develop a country." There had
been heavy loss of lives and properties in Sri Lanka (during
the war against the LTTE).
Claiming that peace had returned to the island nation, he
said India had given Rs 3,600 crore for the benefit of the
internally displaced Tamils. The government had also allocated
Rs 1,000 crore for the construction of 50,000 houses in
northern Sri Lanka.
The Home Minister said efforts are underway to renovate
Kangesanthurai port and repair Palali airport.
He said he was confident that in another two years, 2.5
lakh displaced Tamils would get their houses and they would be
rehabilitated.
Chidambaram was participating in the 108th birth
anniversary celebrations of former Chief Minister Kamaraj and
125th anniversary of the Congress party. PTI SSN
MYR