As the AIADMK tries to revive the memories of Mullivaikkal massacre of Sri Lankan Tamils in 2009, the DMK is refusing to be drawn itself into the debate in an obvious campaign strategy to keep the Lankan issue out of centrestage during this elections.

Chief Minister and AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa took up the issue once again at her rally in Tiruchy. She alleged that the UPA government in which the DMK was a constituency started training the Lankan army in 2008 and provided arms and radars with the full knowledge of Karunanidhi, who was the then Chief Minister.

During the military offensive, no fire zones and hospitals were shelled and a genocide was carried out, she accused. She also cited an interview by Northern Provincial Council member Anandhi Sasidharan that LTTE members surrendered following an assurance by DMK chief Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi and those who surrendered were either killed or missing.

Karunanidhi, who used to give quick rebuttals have chosen to remain silent on the issue although he has started his election campaign on Saturday. Party treasurer M.K. Stalin too has not reacted, but he is not known to speak on major political issues and prefers to confine himself to bread and butter matters.

The DMK could be silent as it does not want the Lankan issue to occupy the centre-stage in the Assembly poll campaign.

However, the AIADMK is continuing with its attacks on the DMK-Congress combine on the island Tamils issue and showing visuals of aerial bombardment in its party channel, along with interviews from LTTE supporters.

(With inputs from Deccan Chronicle)