Vaiko observes a day-long fast to protest against alleged killing of Tamils in Sri Lanka

Chennai, Nov 19 : Prominent political leader of Tamil Nadu Vaiko observed a day- long fast on Wednesday to protest against the alleged killing of Tamils in Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's inability in calling off the oppression.

The protest in Chennai today was organised to demonstrate solidarity with the Sri Lankan Tamils being allegedly targeted by the Island nation's Defence Forces.

Vaiko, also known by the name of V. Gopalswamy, accused the Central Government of betraying Tamils.

"Indian government is responsible for the attacks on Tamils in Sri Lanka. The Manmohan Singh government is betraying the Tamils. Therefore, we are making this peaceful agitation to accuse the Manmohan Singh Government of fully supporting the genocidal attack of the Sri Lankan Government on Tamils," said Vaiko.

The founder of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) also asked the federal government to clear its stand on the Sri Lankan crisis.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) supporters in India say the government gives weapons to Sri Lanka, but New Delhi says it only provides non-lethal equipment.

Diplomats say it also provides intelligence that has helped Sri Lanka to intercept Tiger boats.

Sri Lanakan President Mahinda Rajapakse on November 13 in New Delhi ruled out any possibility of ceasefire till the rebels laid down Arms.

The Tigers say they are fighting to establish a separate homeland for Sri Lanka's Tamil minority, which has complained of marginalisation by successive governments led by the Sinhalese majority since independence from Britain in 1948.

But the Sri Lankan government says the rebels must be destroyed, because they are on a host of terrorism lists including those from the United States, India and Europe, and adds that it is increasingly confident of defeating them soon.

India's Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee has ruled out any Indian involvement in solving the conflict, which the government says must be solved through dialogue.

ANI