‘Not averse to Rajini visiting SL when situation improves’

Pro-Tamil outfits, including the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, on Tuesday said they were not averse to actor Rajinikanth visiting Sri Lanka to meet Tamils after the situation for the minorities improves there. VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan said an 'all-is-well carnival atmosphere,' being sought to be projected by the pro-government organisers, was inappropriate now when Tamils were struggling for their rights.

Originally on April 9, actor Rajinikanth was scheduled to hand over 150 new houses built in Jaffna for Tamils by Gnanam Foundation of Lyca Group, a Tamil film production house.

The actor, however, cancelled his visit after various outfits, including VCK, objected to it.

"They had planned to mobilise four lakh people to project an all-is-well, carnival atmosphere for the event in which Rajinikanth was supposed to participate," he told PTI, adding such an impression would have hindered the Tamils' struggle.

Rajinikanth, however, can meet the Tamils any day in Sri Lanka but only after the situation of its various regions affected by the 2009 war improves there, he said.

"People there too are ready to welcome him. We too are not going to oppose it," he told reporters here, adding, however, that the present situation was not conducive for the actor's visit.–PTI