Chennai: Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) organized a protest on December 10 at TTK Road condemning the statement made by the Sri Lankan Army chief Sarath Fonseka, who called the Tamil political leaders ‘jokers’, in an interview.
The Army Chief was quoted as saying, “If the LTTE is wiped out, those political jokers like Nadumaran, Vaiko and whoever sympathising with the LTTE will most probably lose their income from the LTTE.”
MDMK general secretary Vaiko and his supporters demonstrated a protest here and asked for an open apology from the Sri Lankan government. The protest went peaceful and the crowd dispersed after displaying their displeasure over the issue. No arrests were made.
Mr. Nanmaran, MDMK spokesperson said, “We want an open apology from the Sri Lankan government. The General should be sent back.”
Apparently, arresting of sixteen agitators and burning of effigies of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and General Fonseka was reported from a few districts of Tamil Nadu.
Discontent by the way the Central Government is reacting, Nanmaran said that the Central government in India is doing nothing and that they should look into the issues seriously when foreigners make comments about our leaders.
“What if they make statements about the Prime Minister (of India)? The government is for everyone. The Indian government should make strict warning to all the Sri Lankan foreign officials and ask for an open apology from (the Sri Lankan) President Rajapaksa and General Fonseka,” he said.
Vaiko and The Tamil Nationalist Movement (TNM) leader P. Nedumaran have been getting support from the other political parties of Tamil Nadu as well. Nanmaran said, “We are glad that all the other political parties supported us. They all expressed their concern, especially the ruling party (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam).”
On questioning the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Chennai about the security arrangements for the protest, Dominic, Public Relations Officer, said, “Nothing happened in front of the High Commission. The police had the situation in control and the protests happened elsewhere.”
Expecting a positive response from the Sri Lankan government for the demands made by MDMK on the issue of ridiculing the Tamil Nadu politicians, Nanmaran said, “The diplomatic relations with the government of Sri Lanka will change if the demands are not met. This will have an impact on the Sri Lankan embassy here.”
MDMK has sent a letter to the Prime Minister regarding the same. “We’ll have to wait and see what response comes from the Centre,” Nanmaran said.
AIADMK-CPI((M) alliance
MDMK is at present in alliance with the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), headed by former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.
Commenting on the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) being AIADMK’s new ally in Chennai, for the Lok Sabha elections in 2009, Nanmaran said, “We will continue our alliance with the AIADMK. We are willing to wait and see if anyone is coming forward to form an alliance with us.”
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