BJP allies say no to Sri Lankan President visit in Modi's swearing-in ceremony

New Delhi: The BJP on Friday rejected demands of its Tamil allies MDMK and PMK for a rethink on Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse’s participation in Narendra Modi’s swearing in ceremony on May 26.

MDMK chief Vaiko, who lost the Lok Sabha polls, met PM-elect Narendra Modi and BJP chief Rajnath Singh and expressed his opposition to Mr Rajapakse’s participation.

He demanded that the invitation to Mr Rajapakse be taken back as his attendance would come as a “bolt from the blue” for the people in Tamil Nadu.

Sources in the BJP said that there was no question of taking back the invitation as leaders of all SAARC countries have been invited for the swearing-in ceremony on May 26.

Mr Modi and Mr Singh are understood to have given a patient hearing to Mr Vaiko and shared his concerns on the ethnic Tamil issue. The leaders told Mr Vaiko that the invitation should be seen as part of the new government’s desire to have good relations with neighbouring countries.

After his meeting with Mr Singh, the MDMK chief said, “It would be the saddest day if Mr Rajapakse attends the swearingin ceremony. When Mr Vajpayee became the PM, he did not invite the President of Sri Lanka for the swearing-in.” Later, he met Mr Modi. “Rajapakse is the butcher of Tamils. Mr Modi should reconsider the decision to invite him,” Mr Vaiko said to the reporters after the meeting.