Wimal angry over treatment of Lankan pilgrims
A minister yesterday sounded an alarm over the anti Sri Lankan attitude of the Tamil Nadu government and asked what the consequences would be if Sri Lankans chose to treat thousands of Tamil Nadu citizens who regularly visited Sri Lanka in a similar manner.
National Freedom Front (NFF) leader and Minister Wimal Weerawansa who is a government ally urged the Indian government to prevail upon what he described as the politically and racially motivated foolish actions of Tamil Nadu politicians and prevent a possible catastrophic situation that would seriously harm the interests of both countries.
He said the Indian government must take immediate steps to prevent the anti Sri Lankan campaign in Tamil Nadu and put an end to hostilities against Sri Lankans before it got out of hand.
The minister told a news conference that Tamil Nadu authorities had forced sportsmen
Indian government must take immediate steps to prevent the anti Sri Lankan campaign in Tamil Nadu and put an end to hostilities against Sri Lankans before it got out of hand
and defence personnel to leave the state resulting from racially influenced policies.
“It is extremely regretful that the Indian government remains silenent over these anti Sri Lanka acts by the Tamil Nadu politicians. However, my inner feeling is that the Tamil Nadu does not have the temerity to behave in this manner without the knowledge of Delhi,” the minister said. “What will happen if Sri Lan- kans begin to attack Indians? The Tamil Nadu politicians must take the full responsibility for what is happening.”
He said India must extend its goodwill and support to Sri Lanka at a time the country was struggling to rise from the ashes of separatist terrorism that bled the country for more than 30 years. The minister said Sri Lankans had put to rest the ill feelings they had with India for providing a safe haven, weapons and training to LTTE cadres to wage a bloody war against Sri Lanka and also with regard to the vote against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC sessions in Geneva early this year.