DPI stage demo against SL president's visit to India

Chennai, Nov 17 (UNI) The Dalit Panthers of India (DPI) general secretary Thol Thirumavalavan today hailed the Union Government's gesture by sending food and other essential commodities to mitigate the sufferings of Sri Lankan Tamils in the island nation.

Addressing party volunteers, who staged a demonstration in the city to protest the visit of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse to India, the DPI leader requested the Centre to distribute food and other essential commodities to the Sri Lankan Tamils only through the Red Cross, as the present arrangement to hand over the materials to the Sri Lankan authorities would not serve the purpose.

Urging the Union Government not to allow the Sri Lankan President to visit India under any circumstances, Mr Thirumavalan wanted the Centre to ensure that the ongoing genocide against Tamils by the Sinhalese army was stopped, and steps to protect the rights of Tamils was taken.

Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam leaders Anur Jagadeesan, Viduthalai Rajanendran, among others addressed the demonstrators.

Earlier, the DPI volunteers burnt the effigy of Mr Rajapakse.

UNI RV MIR HT1530