Tamil Nadu was at boiling point yesterday over the Sri Lankan issue, with MDMK chief Vaiko Gopalswamy arrested for making highly inflammatory speeches in support of the LTTE, the office of the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission in Chennai being stoned and trains blocked by protestors calling for an end to the military operations in northern Sri Lanka.
This is the second time that Vaiko has been arrested for supporting the banned group. The earlier occasion was during the previous AIADMK government, when he was held under the anti terrorism POTA law.
Vaiko had said, at a public meeting in Chennai on Tuesday,that a separate Tamil Eelam led by LTTE chief Prabhakaran would come into being soon in Sri Lanka.
"The LTTE and the Sri Lankan Tamils cannot be separated. Though we are against violence, we should distinguish between violence and right", he said.
"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who assured me no military aid would be supplied to Sri Lanka, has gone back on his word," he alleged.
Vaiko said, "if the need arises, I will be the first to take up arms in support of the Sri Lankan Tamils.
I will gather youths from all over the country for this purpose".
The MDMK praesidium chairman, Mr. M Kannappan, had told the meeting that the time would come to call for a separate Tamil Nadu. At the meeting, a two-hour film on the Sri Lankan army's alleged atrocities against the Tamils was screened.
The Tamil Nadu government's decision to arrest Vaiko was to make it clear that the ruling DMK State government’s support, led by M. Karunanidhi, was only for the suffering Sri Lankan Tamils and not for the LTTE.
Meanwhile, a group of students pelted stones at the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission in Chennai last afternoon, breaking the window panes at its entrance, police said.
Heavy reinforcements were rushed to the mission, situated about a kilometre away from the residences of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and Opposition Leader J. Jayalalithaa, police added.
Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner P. Amza was away in Colombo at the time, Indian diplomatic sources said.
“The miscreants suddenly broke glass window panes at the gate and entered the main building shouting slogans. Even as we rushed for cover, the police arrived and prevented further damage. Though nobody was hurt, the experience has left us shaken,” an employee at the mission told IANS.
Six police vehicles were later positioned at the mission, situated in a quiet street in the southern part of the city.
Meanwhile, activists of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) or the Dalit Panthers’ Party blocked trains in Chennai yesterday, protesting the alleged killing of Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Activists of VCK, an ally of Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK), raised slogans and said that they wanted to extend their support to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and other leaders against the alleged atrocities committed against Tamils in Sri Lanka.
“The protest was held against the Central Government, to take action on the Sri Lankan issue. So we blocked trains today. If our demands are not met by October 28, our protests will be intensified,” said Thol Thirumavalavan, president of VCK.
The activists, including 30 women, raised slogans against Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and wanted the Indian Government to protect the Tamils, police said.
DM
They were not given permission to stage demonstrations, according to police.
This is the second time that Vaiko has been arrested for supporting the banned group. The earlier occasion was during the previous AIADMK government, when he was held under the anti terrorism POTA law.
Vaiko had said, at a public meeting in Chennai on Tuesday,that a separate Tamil Eelam led by LTTE chief Prabhakaran would come into being soon in Sri Lanka.
"The LTTE and the Sri Lankan Tamils cannot be separated. Though we are against violence, we should distinguish between violence and right", he said.
"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who assured me no military aid would be supplied to Sri Lanka, has gone back on his word," he alleged.
Vaiko said, "if the need arises, I will be the first to take up arms in support of the Sri Lankan Tamils.
I will gather youths from all over the country for this purpose".
The MDMK praesidium chairman, Mr. M Kannappan, had told the meeting that the time would come to call for a separate Tamil Nadu. At the meeting, a two-hour film on the Sri Lankan army's alleged atrocities against the Tamils was screened.
The Tamil Nadu government's decision to arrest Vaiko was to make it clear that the ruling DMK State government’s support, led by M. Karunanidhi, was only for the suffering Sri Lankan Tamils and not for the LTTE.
Meanwhile, a group of students pelted stones at the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission in Chennai last afternoon, breaking the window panes at its entrance, police said.
Heavy reinforcements were rushed to the mission, situated about a kilometre away from the residences of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and Opposition Leader J. Jayalalithaa, police added.
Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner P. Amza was away in Colombo at the time, Indian diplomatic sources said.
“The miscreants suddenly broke glass window panes at the gate and entered the main building shouting slogans. Even as we rushed for cover, the police arrived and prevented further damage. Though nobody was hurt, the experience has left us shaken,” an employee at the mission told IANS.
Six police vehicles were later positioned at the mission, situated in a quiet street in the southern part of the city.
Meanwhile, activists of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) or the Dalit Panthers’ Party blocked trains in Chennai yesterday, protesting the alleged killing of Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Activists of VCK, an ally of Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK), raised slogans and said that they wanted to extend their support to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and other leaders against the alleged atrocities committed against Tamils in Sri Lanka.
“The protest was held against the Central Government, to take action on the Sri Lankan issue. So we blocked trains today. If our demands are not met by October 28, our protests will be intensified,” said Thol Thirumavalavan, president of VCK.
The activists, including 30 women, raised slogans against Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and wanted the Indian Government to protect the Tamils, police said.
DM
They were not given permission to stage demonstrations, according to police.
