Stop Rajapakse visit: Dalit party leader

Chennai, Nov 20: Dalit Panthers of India (DPI) General Secretary Thol Thirumavalavan today urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to stop Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse's proposed visit to India on November 26.

In a letter to Mr Karunanidhi, copy of which was released to to press here, the Dalit leader alleged that Mr Rajapakse's visit to the country as India's guest, at a time his government was launching an offensive against the Tamils in the island nation, was an affront to the entire Tamil community.

''Mr Rajapakse is coming here after killing the Tamil refugees at Kathiraveli and girl children in Chencholai and the Chief Minister should stop his visit,'' he said.

The Sri Lankan President is scheduled to visit India on November 26 to inaugurate the conference of Asian Mayors at Dehra Dun.

Mr Thirumavalavan also urged Mr Karunanidhi to take suitable steps to stop the alleged training facilities for the Sri Lankan forces in the country.

Even after the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister voiced his protest, there were reports that the Lankan forces were being given training at the CRPF headquarters in Coimbatore. He alleged, adding they were also given training to operate Superfast Jet aircraft in Chandigarh.

Hailing Mr Karunanidhi for having prevailed upon the Centre to send humanitarian assistance to the affected Tamils in Jaffna, Mr Thirumavalvan appealed to the latter to take steps and ensure that relief materials were distributed through the Red Cross Society.

The Chief Minister should also ensure that the relief materials, including rice, sugar and milk power were routed through highway A 9, connecting Jaffna with other mainlands and not through the sea, the Dalit leader said.

UNI

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