COLOMBO: Warning that the LTTE's separate state ideology is a "threat" to India, the Sri Lankan Army chief said he is confident that New Delhi would not listen to "political jokers" in Tamil Nadu to force Colombo to broker a ceasefire with the Tiger rebels.

The Indian Government would never influence Sri Lanka to restore the ceasefire with the LTTE and it would not listen to the "political jokers" of Tamil Nadu whose "survival depends on the LTTE" which killed one of the most respected Prime Ministers of India, Rajiv Gandhi, Sri Lankan Army Chief Lt Gen Sarath Fonseka told the 'Sunday Observer'.

Fonseka, whose tenure was extended by another year, said that the LTTE had caused much problems in Tamil Nadu and the outfit's separate State ideology would cause damage to the sovereignty of India.

Fonseka said that Lanka had taken all efforts to maintain "zero casualties" during military offensive, but blamed "corrupt politicians" in Tamil Nadu for making "false" allegations against the island nation's security forces.

"If the LTTE is wiped out, those political jokers like Nadumaran, Viko and whoever who is sympathising with the LTTE will most probably lose their income from the LTTE", he was quoted as saying.

"This is the time for them to realise the truth. And they should also realise their attempts to save the LTTE would not be successful as the LTTE is on the brink of extinction. Most importantly, they should realise that LTTE is an internal problem of Sri Lanka and need to honour the sovereignty of Sri Lanka."