Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Friday appealed to Tamil National Movement leader P Nedumaran to give up the indefinite fast he undertook from Thursday, demanding that the Centre take steps to protect Sri Lankan Tamils.

In a letter to Nedumaran, Karunanidhi said his government will do all that is necessary to prevail upon the Centre to take steps to protect Sri Lankan Tamils.

'Your life is precious. Please give up the fast,' he said in his letter.

Nedurman, whose efforts to take food items and medicines to Sri Lanka [Images] by boat from Nagapattinam without a visa was thwarted by police on Wednesday last, went on an indefinite fast on Thursday at his residence in Chennai.

In Madurai, Dravidar Kazhagam leader K Veeramani also requested Nedumaran to give up his fast, saying he should not create a predicament that will embarrass the state government in the international fora.

"Nedumaran should end the fast and join all others to create world opinion against the Sri Lankan government, which is indulging in human rights violations in Tamil areas," he said.

Nedumaran had been arrested because he attempted to take medicines and essential items to Sri Lankan Tamils. He was released as he himself admitted that his act was an illegal one, Veeramani said.

The DK leader said the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government was equally concerned and cared for the Sri Lankan Tamils and none could doubt it. Even the articles sent by DMK workers had not reached Tamils in the island nation, he pointed out.

Nedumaran's sudden decision to go on fast would create an impression that the ruling party in Tamil Nadu was against the welfare and rights of the Sri Lankan Tamils, he said.