'Modi-Sirisena meet will mark new beginning for Lankan Tamils'

Coimbatore, Feb 14: Union Minister of State Pon Radhakrishnan on Saturday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming meet with Sri Lankan President Maithiripala Sirisena would pave way for a permanent solution to the Sri Lankan Tamil issues.

Modi is "very keen" on finding a permanent solution to the problems faced by Tamils in Sri Lanka. The meeting between the two leaders to be held in New Delhi would be a historical one in establishing cordial relationship between the neighboring nations, he told reporters.

Sirisena is arriving in New Delhi tomorrow on a four-day visit, his first overseas tour after assuming charge following his recent election, during which he will meet Modi and discuss key issues including peace and reconciliation process in his country.

Radhakrishnan said as the Centre was already on the task with regard to the problems being faced by fishermen from Tamil Nadu, it was not necessary to take advise from DMK chief M Karunanidhi for initiating action.

Without naming any political party, Radhakrishnan alleged that some parties were raising the Sri Lankan Tamils issue to "gain publicity and survive in politics".

On the drubbing received by BJP in Delhi Assembly polls, he said the people had given mandate to Aam Admi Party following the appeal made by Arvind Kejriwal that he would not cheat them again.

Radhakrishnan stated that BJP had got four lakh more votes than it polled in the last Lok Sabha elections in which it swept all seven seats in Delhi.

PTI