DK thanks PM for cancelling Lankan trip

Chennai, Jan 7 (UNI) Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) President K Veeramani today thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on behalf of the Tamils for cancelling his proposed visit to Sri Lanka to take part in the latter's Independence Day celebrations on February 4.

In a statement here, he said the decision deserved to be hailed as the Prime Minister's visit at a time when the island nation's Government had launched an offensive against the Tamils would send a wrong signal.

Mr Veeramani, along with Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) President Thol Thirumavalavan, both staunch supporters of Eelam Tamils, had staged a joint demonstration here on December 31 last year, against the Prime Minister's proposed visit.

They had appealed to the Centre that neither the Prime Minister nor anyone on behalf of India should visit the island nation and attend its Independence Day celebrations.

Any such participation would only strengthen the hands of the Sri Lankan Government, which had launched an offensive against the Tamils, and spellED doom for them, the two leaders said.

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