DMK pulls out of UPA govt.

In a dramatic development, the DMK, a key constituent of the ruling UPA at the Centre, decided to pull out of the Union government and the UPA alliance over the Sri Lanka issue.

Nevertheless, the DMK chief added a rider that his party would reconsider its decision if the UPA government heeds to its demand and adopts a resolution in Parliament, censuring the Sri Lankan government for alleged war crimes and genocide.

The DMK's decision came a day after talks with Congress emissaries and senior ministers, A K Antony, P Chidambaram and Ghulam Nabi Azad, failed to thrash out a consensus on the issue of India backing a strongly-worded resolution in the UNHRC, seeking an international, independent probe against Sri Lanka and using stronger terms like 'genocide' and 'war crimes'.

The DMK's decision was greeted by cadres cheering and setting off fireworks in the premises of the party headquarters. The five ministers, including Cabinet-rank minister and Karunanidhi's son, M K Alagiri, will tender their resignations during the course of the day, Karunanidhi said.