“Expel Northern Provincial Chief Minister”: Sumanthiran

TNA’s MP, M.A.Sumanthiran had said that he had requested the Party Leadership to expel the Chief Minister of the Northern Province C.V. Wigneswarn from the Party.

 He had said this in an interview granted to S.B.S. Tamil Broadcasting Radio, based in Australia. He said so, when he was told that, there are speculations that there is a split between the Northern Chief Minister and the TNA.

Explaining that his non-campaigning in favour of the party during the concluded General Elections had caused a gap between him and the party, Sumanthiran further said in this interview that, It is not an acceptable matter that he declining our request to go to Canada and collect election funds for the party.

The full text of the interview is given below:

Question: Accusations are being placed against you that, you are acting with laiss’ez-aller. Particularly, when the discussions were held on the resolution on Sri Lanka in the UNHRC you have not engaged senior leaders like Chief Minister Wigneswaran and that you have shown indifference to them and you have acted with manifest bias towards people who had engaged in matters regarding Problems of Tamils. What are your reactions to these ?

Sumanthiran: Right from the time the matter regarding Sri Lanka was brought to the UNHRC, my party had appointed me responsible to events held and the relationship with international countries. That responsibility was left to rest with me. As the TNA was an alliance consisting constituent parties the party decisions made by the party leaders. In this context the party leaders will always integrate me in  taking decisions as I am the person who is handling important matters mentioned before. This is the usual practice.

In this conjuncture, while the Geneva sessions were in progress, and while staying there and was engaged in negotiations, circumstances compelled me to take certain decisions. When I was taking theses decision I took them in accordance with the responsibilities that were given to me. If I consider that the matters to decide on are serious, then I used to contact the party leader and act according to his advises. I have never taken any important decision without consulting my Party Leader. But it is impossible to decision in consultation with all constituent Parties.

As far as  the NP CM, Wigneswaran is concerned, I played an important role in bringing him to polititics. The Party had given the responsibility of administrating the NPC. We have also consulted him often on certain international affairs. But it was not a continuous communication. Because my communication was only with the Party Leader.

Question: If that is so, is there a gap existing between Wigneswaran and TNA, particularly you?

Sumanthiran: That gap is existent. As far as I know the reason for this gap is that he did not act in favour of the Party in the concluded Parliamentary elections. No gap was existing between me and him before the elections.

During the last Parliamentary Election time, we told him that funds are needed for the election and we requested him to go to Canada and to bring some funds there. When the NPC Elections were held Sampanthan and myself went and collected funds. Hence we told him that, we cannot go this time, and asked him to do it. He said that he cannot travel long distance and put forward various other excuses and rejected our request. But at the same time he was getting ready to go to America. I again went to him and asked, as you are going America, you can come from there to Canada, as well. He refused that also and declined my request.

We came to know his dislike after he showed unwillingness to be engaged in election work, after not working in support of the Party and after putting out statements against the Party. First he announced that he will keep neutral, then he announced that he will remain silent and thereafter when he identifying what kind of people should be elected, he issued a statement, very clearly in favour of an opposing Party. No political party will allow one of its members to act in this way. He may be the Chief Minister…He may be a retired Justice … that is a different matter.

I have asked the Party Leadership to sack Wigneswaran from the Party, just on the basis of his activities during the election tome, he said.