|
Protests
against Rajapakse's visit in TN
A series of protests was held in
various parts of Tamil Nadu against the central
government inviting Sri Lankan president Mahinda
Rajapaksa as a special guest for the closing
ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi on
Thursday. MDMK, a strong sympathizer of LTTE,
Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (PDK) and the ruling
DMK’s close ally Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi
(VCK) staged demonstrations in Chennai,
Coimbatore, Vellore, Sivakasi and other regions.
VCK members protested outside the Sri Lankan
high commission in Chennai. MDMK founder Vaiko
led the protest in Coimbatore and was
immediately arrested with followers. They were
later let off.
|
|
|
“We strongly condemn the Centre
for inviting inhuman Rajapaksa, who is
responsible for the death of thousands of
innocent Sri Lankan civilians,” Vaiko told
reporters before being bundled into a police
van. VCK and PDK members also staged black-flag
protests and raised slogans against Rajapaksa as
well as the Union government. “He is responsible
for heinous war crimes, but unfortunately, the
Centre has chosen to invite him as a special
guest,” a VCK leader said.
