Vaiko held for staging protest against Lankan Prez visit

MDMK chief Vaiko and other party activists were arrested today for staging a black flag demonstration against the visit of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.

MDMK chief Vaiko and other party activists were arrested on Thursday for staging a black flag demonstration against the visit of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.

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Activists protesting against the visit of the Sri Lankan President burnt his effigies, police said, adding they recovered six effigies from the demonstrators.

Talking to reporters, Vaiko said the party's agitation would continue till the Sri Lankan President was brought before a UN court as a "war criminal" for trial.

It was a "shame and blot on India" to bring Rajapaksa to take part in a great sport event like the Commonwealth Games, which was inaugurated by none other than the Indian President and Prince Charles, he said.

The decision to invite Rajapaksa had hurt the sentiments of lakhs of Tamils, "for what he had done to their brethren in Sri Lanka, in the name of eliminating LTTE," Vaiko said.

Some activists of Hindu Makkal Katchi, led by its president, Arjun Sampath were also taken in custody, for supporting the MDMK's agitation, police said.