BJP backs DMK on ethnic Malaysian Tamils issue

Kochi/Kuala Lumpur, Dec 1: The BJP today said there was nothing wrong in DMK supremo M Karunanudhi expressing concern over the 'unfair' treatment of ethnic Indians in Malaysia after the country disapproved of any ''meddling in its internal affairs''.

'' This is not interference in its (Malaysia's) internal affairs. It is the duty of leaders here to express concern about the condition of the people of Indian origin and approach the appropriate authorities on this,'' Mr Naidu said at a press conference in Kerala today.

Mr Naidu said it was not fair to use expressions like ''lay off'', as reportedly said by Malaysian Minister Mohamad Nazri Abdul Aziz to Mr Karunanidhi, and said Indians were facing problems in Gulf countries also.

''Recently, a lot of the people have returned from the Gulf to Andhra Pradesh. It has become a big crisis,'' he added.

Malaysia's 'unrelenting' approach to the issue following last Sunday's rally by 10,000 ethnic Indians protesting alleged discrimination and a fair share of the country's national wealth, evoked condemnation by Tamil politicians in India.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said that the government would deal with citizens according to its own laws and no other country should interfere.

Many of the ethnic Indians in Malaysia are Tamils with their roots in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Malaysia has denied the mistreatment of ethnic Indians who form seven per cent of the country's 26 million people.

UNI