Chennai: BJP ally MDMK on Tuesday opposed the scheduled address of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to the UN general assembly later this month and urged the Centre to allow a UN panel probing alleged war crimes by the Lankan army hold its inquiry in India.
“If Rajapaksa is allowed to address the UNGA, it will be an injustice (to Tamils) and demean the the UN’s status,” MDMK general secretary Vaiko told reporters at a demonstration by the party at Valluvar Kottam. The Lankan President, who was accused of ethnic cleansing by state political parties, is scheduled to address UNGA on September 25.
Vaiko said that Centre, in the name of ensuring cordial relations with Colombo, should not ‘compromise’ on the rights of the Lankan Tamils. He also urged the Centre to allow a UN panel probing the alleged war crimes to hold its probe in India.
Holding that a Tamil Eelam alone was the solution for the ethnic issue, he insisted that a referendum should be held for among Lankan Tamils and the diaspora for this purpose.
