Vaiko condemns Bandaranaike's charges on Nirupama Rao

Chennai, Sep 9 (UNI) Marumalarchi DMK General Secretary Vaiko today strongly condemned the Sri Lankan Tourism Minister Anura Bandaranaike charges against the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Nirupama Rao with ''interfering in the Internal affairs of Sri Lanka and said it was totally unwarranted.

Talking to newspersons, after his discussions with Sri Lankan Tamil Leaders, who called on him at the party headquarters ''Thayagam'' here, Mr Vaiko said Ms Rao was functioning within her limits.

Mr Vaiko also said the charges levelled against Ms Rao was the racist act of Sinhalese and also hostile against Tamils.

The Sri Lankan Tamil MPs Mr R Sambantham, Mr M K Sivaji Lingam, Mr Mavai Senathi Raja, Ms Padmini Chidambaranathan and Gajendrakumar Ponnammbalam, held discussions with Mr Vaiko for more than two hours.

Later, Mr Sambantham told newspersons that they came to India to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and other leaders to explain the prevailing situation in Sri Lanka and to seek their cooperation to protect Tamils.

He said India should not impose its ideas on Sri Lankan Tamils issue and hoped that India's decision would be accetable to us.

Mr Sivajilingam said they sought an appointment to meet both Prime Minister Dr Singh and M Karunanidhi, but were not able to meet them since Dr Singh was out of the country and Mr Karunanidhi was pre occupied with some official works.

They would try to meet Dr Singh, Mr Karunanidhi, Ms Sonia Gandhi and other leaders some time later this month, he added.

UNI RV AJ LS BST2109