Madras students marching in protest against genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka.- note the black ribbons on the lapels of police officers who also joined in the march.

The southern state of India witnessed the most sustained and continuous campaign of protests, processions and fasts since July 25 when the news of the latest attempt at genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka broke out there. Even capital cities like Bombay, Calcutta and New Delhi witnessed several protest demonstrations.

Over 15 Tamilians in Tamil Nadu committed self immolation - drenching in petrol and setting themselves alight - in a spirit of offering the maximum sacrifice on behalf of the atrocities committed against the Tamil of Sri Lanka.

On August 2, Tamil Nadu and parts of other southern states came to a virtual halt when the State government, with the full support of the central government observed a BANDH (Hartal). The Bandh was the result of a unanimous call by all political parties both from the government and opposition.

With the Central government, in an unprecedented step, also joined the bandh authorising the closure of the central government offices and institutions, the normal life of the country came to a grinding halt. Public and private transport and communication systems came to a standstill from 0600 hours for 14 hours, the duration of the hartal. The State government declared August 2 a public and bank holiday

Three separate demonstrations were staged outside the Sri Lanka High Commission in New Delhi on 28 July 1983 by the Congress (1) the AIADMK and the DM K to protest against astrocities on Tamilians by the Sinhalese.

About 10 AIADMK Members of Parliament led by Mrs. Satyavani Muthu, were the first to reach the High Commission shouting "Don't kill Tamilians" and "long live MGR". A four member deputation later met the Deputy High Commissioner and presented to him a memorandum signed by all the 13 AIADMK MPs demanding a halt to the rampage against Tamilians and adequate compensation to the victims. The High Commissioner Mr. Bernard Tilakaratna was away. The Deputy High Commissioner told the deputation that the Sri Lanka Government was doing its best to restore normality and he would convey their feelings to Colombo.

Just as the AIADMK demonstrators dispersed about 500 Congress (1) workers led by the party MPs and local councillors chanting "Jayawardene hai-hai, Indira Gandhi Zindabad" and carrying placards saying "Accord citizenship to Tamilians in Sri Lanka" marched to High Commission. About 50 MPs including Mr. G.K. Moopanar, Mr. Jagdish Tytler, Mr. Chandulal Chandrakar and some Delhi Metropolitan Councillors later went inside the High Commission and protested against the atrocities being perpetrated on Tamilians in Sri Lanka.

The Tamil Nadu Cabinet, which met on 28 July 1983, expressed shock and distress over the insecurity of life and property of Tamils in Sri Lanka. It urged the Prime Minister, Mrs. Gandhi to find a solution to the problem through the United Nations. In a resolution, the meeting said it was the U.N.'s responsibility to ensure absolute protection to the minorities of any country, and as an important member of the world body. India should take proper action to find a just solution to the problem.

The Cabinet expressed anguish over the plight of the innocent Tamils in Sri Lanka who had been deprived of their basic rights and were made targets of frenzied attacks and killings on the streets. It noted that the report about the murder of Tamil youths including Kutimani, Jagan, Thangathurai and Guhan, inside the prison, was horrifying. It expressed sympathy for those who had lost not property but their kith and kin. As a mark of respect to those killed in the various incidents, the Ministers stood in silence for two minutes.