Key UPA constituent DMK today expressed satisfaction over Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s assurance that New Delhi stood for the “dignity and self-respect” of Sri Lankan Tamils. Party chief M Karunanidhi recalled that Singh’s assurance had been conveyed to a visiting delegation of Sri Lankan Tamil MPs last week. “The Prime Minister had said India will not backtrack from its position that Tamils in Sri Lanka should lead a life of dignity and self respect in a peaceful environment. This gives us satisfaction,” he said. Similar resolutions had been adopted at a conference of party-backed Tamil Eelam Supporters’ Organisation (TESO) in August, he recalled. On the recent arrest of Tamil Nadu fishermen by Iranian authorities for violating International Maritime Boundary Line, he said many fishermen from the state were languishing in jails of Qatar and Iran and demanded that the Centre intervene immediately to secure their release.