Published in The New Indian Express, Chennai, on July 15, 2010;
www.expressbuzz.com
MDMK LEADER Vaiko has raised strong suspicion over the Indian government’s stoic silence in the for mation of United Nation’s probe panel to investigate warrelated crimes in Sri Lanka.
In a fiery speech during an agitation demanding to shut down the Lankan Deputy High Commission office in the city here on Wednesday, Vaiko said, “When the United Nations and United States of America are openly condemning Sri Lanka for blocking the entry of three-member war crimes probe panel into the island nation, why can’t India do the same?”
“The Indian government at the Centre did not even realise that the island nation not only insulted the international body (UN) by obstructing the probe, it has also insulted the biggest democracy, as India is also a member of the body,” Vaiko said.
"When the US and the European countries have expressed concern over Lanka’s ill-advised move to block the UN’s truth-finding drive, why is India still hesitating to do it?” the firebrand pro-Tamil leader asked.
Lambasting the State government and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi for towing the Lankan ideology, Vaiko asked, “Has the Chief Minister become an agent of Mahinda Rajapaksa by not allowing any Tamilian to speak against Sri Lanka on Indian soil?”
Sri Lankan Tamil Protection Forum coordinator Pazha Nedumaran, CPI leader D Pandian, activist M Natarajan, Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam leader ‘Viduthalai’ Rajendran and many others also addressed the protestors during the agitation.
The protestors set on fire effigies of Lankan president Rajapakse and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. They also raised slogans against Lankan forces for killing innocent Indian fishermen. After the agitation, the leaders tried to march the Lankan Deputy High Commission but the police blocked their way and arrested them.
ADDITION: They were later remanded in different prisons.
No comments:
Post a Comment