Stalin opposes ‘militarisation’ of Lankan Tamil areas, urges PM Modi to raise issue

After swearing-in as the new president of Sri Lanka, Gotabaya has passed orders to increase armed forces in Tamil areas of the island nation.

Updated on: Nov 25, 2019, 07:03:20 IST

Hindustan Times, Chennai | By HT News Desk

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DMK president M K Stalin has opposed deployment of additional armed forces in the Tamil areas of Sri Lanka and requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take up the issue with the island nation’s newly elected President.

DMK President MK Stalin has raised Lankan Tamils issue in a statement (ANI Photo/File)

“After swearing-in as the new president of Sri Lanka, Gotabaya has passed orders to increase armed forces in Tamil areas of the island nation. Rajapaksa brothers have also started to change the Tamil names of streets in Northern and Eastern Province. DMK condemns this strongly,” Stalin said in a statement.

Stalin said dignity and self-respect for Sri Lankan Tamils was important and PM Modi should consider this issue “seriously”.

“Rights provided by the island nation’s constitution to the Sri Lankan Tamils and a solution, which the Tamils expect, should also be fulfilled,” Stalin said.

He said Gotabaya Rajapaksa should keep his “promise” to treat all citizens equally and the Indian prime minister was in a position to persuade him.

“Modi should speak to Gotabaya to resolve the Sri Lankan Tamil’s issue properly. The Indian PM is in a position to put out the fire which burns against Tamils in the heart of Gotabaya. So, I hope PM would insist Gotabaya that Tamil people’s interest are looked after,” the DMK leader added.

Rajya Sabha MP Vaiko, whose party Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) is in alliance with the DMK, has announced a protest at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar against Rajapaksa’s visit on November 28.

Vaiko said in a statement that the Sri Lankan army had killed a large number of Tamils in the war against the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) and the Tamils in Tamil Nadu could “never” forget the “atrocities”.

Another DMK ally, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK- a Dalit party) has requested the Indian government to not allow Gotabaya to visit the country.

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