BJP will not support Tamil 'Eelam' in Sri lanka: Naidu

The BJP on Thursday said it would not support any demand for formation of separate homeland for Sri Lankan-Tamils but wanted the ethnic community to live with equal rights.

The BJP on Thursday said it would not support any demand for formation of separate homeland for Sri Lankan-Tamils but wanted the ethnic community to live with equal rights.

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The BJP would not support the formation of Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka. "Our party wants the Sri Lankan Tamils to get equal rights like other citizens," senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu told an election meeting at Kottaram near here.

His comments came in the aftermath of assertions by AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa that she would take steps for creation of 'Eelam'. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi too backed the Eelam demand last night stating that he had assumed the responsibilities of making all efforts for formation of an 'Eelam'.

He said the BJP, if voted to power, would bring back the Prevention Of Terrorism Act (POTA) to keep a check on terrorism.