Chennai: MDMK (Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) today (June 26, 2004) said it was of the firm opinion that there was no need for a ban on the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) in India, but it would not demand lifting of the ban.

'A day will come when the ban will be lifted', MDMK chief Vaiko said, adding he was not demanding lifting of the ban. Vaiko told a press meet in Chennai that UPA's (United Progressive Alliance) common minimum programme had welcomed the peace talks between the Sri Lankan Government and LTTE and said it will support the talks.

India should play a 'positive role' in the peace talks because of geo-political reasons.

He said the Sri Lankan Government's "admission" that it played a role in the rift between LTTE supremo V Prabhakaran and its erstwhile eastern sector commander Karuna had only proved his point that the Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga was "bent upon finding ways for sabotaging the peace process."

After the Karuna episode, peace process had come to a standstill in Sri Lanka, he said.

He expressed the hope that the UPA Government would soon repeal POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act).

UPA had agreed in principle to repeal the act, but the modalities were yet to be worked out, he said.

He ruled out reconsideration of the party's decision not to join the Manmohan Singh ministry. "It was the unanimous decision of the party and there is no question of reconsidering it now," he said.