Uncertainty dogs MDMK leader Vaiko’s planned visit to the UK on Monday, amid conflicting reports about him being denied a visa to travel to London to participate in a meeting of Tamils.
While speculation was rife in Chennai that the British Deputy High Commission’s Office in the city has “denied” visa to Vaiko, apparently for his pro-LTTE sympathies as the UK has also banned the Tamil Tigers, there was no official word on the status of his ‘visa papers’.
A source at the British Deputy High Commission’s office said he was in no position to give visa-related information. Being a Sunday, his phone was more a helpline to UK nationals seeking help in Chennai.
Police sources in Chennai maintained they had no information on the denial of visa to Vaiko. Sources close to the MDMK leader, too, said there was no information on the issue. “Apparently someone wants to create confusion with such reports as any decision on the visa should be first communicated to the applicant,” MDMK senior functionary K.S. Radhakrishnan told HT.
Vaiko was arrested last month by the DMK government on charges of “sedition”, for making a “pro-LTTE and anti-national speech” at an MDMK function in Chennai. He was later released on November 6 when prosecution did not press his remand extension as they said that the investigations into the case had been completed.
{{/usCountry}}Vaiko was arrested last month by the DMK government on charges of “sedition”, for making a “pro-LTTE and anti-national speech” at an MDMK function in Chennai. He was later released on November 6 when prosecution did not press his remand extension as they said that the investigations into the case had been completed.
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