Furious Vaiko protests against Rajapaksa’s MP trip,says BJP CM committed ‘unpardonable’ act

Rajapaksa visit raises Vaiko's hackles,says MDMK will lead protest against it.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s proposed visit to Madhya Pradesh has drawn flak from Tamil parties with MDMK chief Vaiko threatening to stage black flag demonstration against him during the trip.

Vaiko rejected Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s appeal urging him to call off the protest and said he will go ahead with his protest against Rajapaksa during his proposed visit to Sanchi to participate in a Buddhist function on September 21.

Vaiko,a strong critic of Rajapaksa,holding him responsible for the killing of civilian Tamils in the war against LTTE in 2009,left for Sanchi this afternoon,an MDMK spokesperson here said in Chennai.

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In Bhopal,Chouhan said,”we want to strengthen the relations of India with neighbouring countries…India must become a destination to learn more about religion”.

He said the Sanchi meet was aimed at spreading love,peace and kindness and there was no other objective.

Vaiko said the invitation extended to Rajapaksa by the BJP-ruled state government was “unpardonable and unjustified”.

In a related development at Salem in Tamil Nadu,a 26 year-old man attempted self-immolation protesting against Rajapaksa’ visit.

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Vijayaraj was rushed to a Government Hospital with 95 per cent burns and his condition was stated to be critical,police said.

Meanwhile,Centre today said it had no role to play in this matter as Rajapaksa was visiting the country at the invitation of the MP government.

“Mahinda Rajapaksha is on an official visit and the Madhya Pradesh government has invited him. We cannot do anything,” Minister of State in PMO,V Narayanasamy said in Coimbatore.

He urged parties not to politicise the Sri Lankan Tamils issue,saying it would affect them.

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DMK chief M Karunanidhi has also opposed the Lankan leader’s visit.

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