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The prestigious Indian national newspaper in a special commentary on events in the Northern Sri Lanka stated that help from India would give Sri Lanka to continue its fight against the Tiger terrorists and that India should help Sri Lanka to eliminate the Tigers 'once and for all'. Hindu analyst Prem Shankar Jha predicts in his article "Dire Threat to India" that military success for the LTTE in Jaffna would ultimately lead to a separatist movement in Tamil Nadu. He observes that Tamil Nadu and the Indian Government must carefully, quickly and decisively consider the consequences of present events in Sri Lanka's North, for "time is running out". 'Ever since 1971, India has followed one steadfast policy towards its neighbors. This has been to minimise the impact of destabilizing changes in them on India's domestic affairs. Today that policy is being challenged as never before in Sri Lanka. The Government's first reaction to the defeat of the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) at Elephant Pass and the subsequent run of LTTE victories in attacks on other army camps north of it, was both correct and measured. It ruled out sending Indian troops to Sri Lanka, immediately offered humanitarian aid, and said that it would consider the despatch of arms if Colombo made the request. But it took just one visit from a team of Tamil politicians, headed by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, for the Vajpayee Government to start backing away. The reasons, put succinctly by Mr. Karunanidhi, was that the Tamil parties could not afford to allow any Government of which they were a part to do anything that would directly or indirectly take Tamil lives. "Jaffna will be one of the smallest, poorest, and least economically viable countries in the world. But it will also be the most ruthlessly militarised society in the world, with a worldwide system for collecting foreign exchange to purchase arms. To both the leaders and the cadres of the LTTE, peace will come as an anti-climax. Bred on violence, hate and the cult of self-sacrifice and death, their lives will suddenly lose meaning. To keep them occupied the LTTE's leaders will have to find new goals." The Hindu newspaper's editorial on Wednesday referring to political parties in Tamil Nadu MDMK of Mr. Vaiko and the PMK of Dr. S. Ramdoss and their pro-LTTE stance said, "It is one thing for these parties to adopt political resolutions on the Eelam issue at their conferences, but quite another to be in Government and advocate secession in another country". "Political parties cannot be immune to the problem faced in Kashmir. Indian cannot adopt double standards either in combating terrorism or supporting secession. All that India or nay other mediator or facilitator can do is to bring the two parties together and keep them engaged in negotiations". The editorial has quipped that the LTTE is known for its tough negotiating skills and does not need any external help to make its demands". "In any case, foreign policy cannot be held hostage to chauvinistic voices from Tamil Nadu that do not even reflect the sentiment of the people of the Sate. It is good Mr. Karunanidhi has distanced the DMK from such demands," the editorial said.
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