Jayalalithaa to boycott Modi's swearing-in over invitation to SL Prez

New Delhi, May 25: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J

would not attend the swearing-in ceremony of India's Prime Minister-elect

. Sources said the AIADMK chief was upset with Modi's invite to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to attend his swearing-in on Monday. Rajapaksha accepted the invitation and would be present in New Delhi along with seven other head of states, including Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

It was also reported that Jayalalithaa would not send any representative either. It may be recalled here that she had personally attended Modi's sweraing-in in December 2012 after he became the chief minister of Gujarat for the third consecutive term.

Jayalalithaa said in a statement that the invitation to Rajapaksha upset the people of Tamil Nadu and the relation between the Centre and Tamil Nadu government would have been better if the "ill-advised" move was avoided.

Modi and Jayalalithaa, who are known to be close friends, attacked each other during the campaigning of the just concluded Lok Sabha election but congratulated each other after the results came out on May 16. While Modi's BJP swept the polls nationally, Jayalalithaa's party produced a near-perfect result in the southern state.

MDMK and DMK chiefs Vaikao and Karunanidhi, respectively, too, have protested the move to invite Rajapaksha. DMDK and PMK leaders Vijaykanth and Anbumani Ramadoss, however, are set to attend the swearing-in ceremony.

[Read: Modi's invite to Rajapaksa deeply hurt sentiments of Tamilians: DMK leader]

Most political parties in Tamil Nadu accuse Rajapaksha of carrying out large-scale civilian casualties and human rights violation against the Tamils in the island nation.

The political forces in Tamil Nadu don't want to take a soft stand on the sensitive issue particularly when the assembly polls are just two years away.

Oneindia News