(rptg, correcting date in para two, last line)

Chennai, Aug 20 (UNI) MDMK General Secretary Vaiko today described as ''blatant lie'' the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M Karunanidhi's disclosure that the peace initiative taken by Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was derailed because of his ''clandestine'' visit to Vavuniya.

Joining issue with Mr Karunanidhi, he said, in a statement here that the DMK chief was well aware of his (Vaiko's) trip to Vavuniya even before his meeting with the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi at New Delhi on February 8 rpt February eight, 1989.

Accusing Mr Karunanidhi of adopting double standards on the Eelam Tamils issue, Mr Vaiko, a staunch supporter of LTTE, said before the elections in 1989, the DMK chief had called for complete halt of the IPKF operations in Sri Lanka.

However, after winning the elections and becoming Chief Minister, he insisted the LTTE representatives in Tamil Nadu that the outfit should lay down arms and declare ceasefire.

Mr Vaiko said he was surprised by this announcement and decided to undertake the risky venture to Vavuniya to assess the plight of the Tamils and the ground realities in Sri Lanka.

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