New Delhi: MDMK chief Vaiko on Monday skipped the swearing-in of Narendra Modi and chose instead to lead a demonstration of his party cadre against participation of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the ceremony.
Vaiko, a staunch supporter of the LTTE, had demanded that Mr Modi withdraw his invitation to the Sri Lankan President accusing him of massacre of Tamils during the final phase of the Eelam war in 2009.
The BJP ignored its ally’s demand and went ahead with rolling out a red carpet for the visiting dignitary as Mr Modi invited all the Saarc leaders.
Making a high-decibel speech at Jantar Mantar, Vaiko said Rajapaksa’s presence would “pollute the sanctity” of Modi’s swearing-in ceremony.
“We have lost our brothers and sisters. They (Sri Lankan Tamils) have been brutally murdered. What for he (Rajapaksa) should be brought in?” Vaiko asked.
After that speech around 11 in the morning, he tried to lead his MDMK cadres towards the Parliament in defiance of the prohibitory orders. Police stopped them and when they refused to disperse peacefully, took them all into custody. They were released about an hour after the swearing-in ceremony got over late evening.
