Chennai: Various political parties here, including the principal opposition party DMK, have expressed serious concern over the Sri Lankan coup bringing Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister unseating Ranil Wickremesinghe by a questionable action of President Maithripala Sirisena. Warning that Rajapaksa is anti-India, anti-Tamils and pro-China, they have urged the Indian Government to stay alert and closely monitor the happenings in the island nation.
DMK president M K Stalin said the sudden coup in Sri Lanka has come as a big shock for the Tamils across the world as Rajapaksa had demonstrated he is anti-Tamil.
“The overnight drama and changes are shrouded with mysteries and such coup has threatened Tamils, who are already denied their basic rights. Further, such move also trembled fishermen from Tamil Nadu, as change in the regime would throw a big challenge to them, while venturing into the sea," Stalin said in a statement.
Recalling the recent visits of Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe to Delhi, Stalin noted that Lankan president Sirisena had alleged that the Indian intelligence agency RAW plotted to kill him, though he later denied saying so. He wanted the Centre to clarify about the visits of the Lankan leaders and also on the charge of RAW plot.
"It is a known fact that Rajapaksa was behind the genocide of Tamils during civil war in 2009 and even our fishermen have suffered at the hands of Lankan navy during Rajapaksa's regime," Stalin said, adding, "It is very clear that Sri Lanka is in political turmoil after Sirisena sacked Wickremesinghe and if such situation continues, that would be a threat to the Tamils as well as to India.
Stalin said the Centre should also recommend to Governor Banwarilal Purohit to release the convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.
Demanding Indian intervention to get "mass murderer" Rajapaksa's appointment as PM annulled, VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan said, "The shocking political coup in Sri Lanka is a huge setback not only to Sri Lankan Tamils but also to India in aspects, particularly national security".
PMK MP Dr Anbumani Ramadoss in a statement said the Lankan events should not be brushed aside as "an internal matter of that country" as it involves the welfare of the Tamils and also the security of India. Alleging Chinese hand in Rajapaksa's appointment, he said, "The Indian government should have sensed the dangerous situation arising and stopped this political coup. Its failure has now exposed India to grave security th-reat".
Since both President Sirisena and PM Rajapaksa had "perpetrated Tamil genocide", India should bring in a resolution in UNHRC seeking international probe into war crimes, the former Union Minister demanded in a statement.
MDMK chief Vaiko too referred to the cases pending against Rajapaksa in the UNHRC. "Rajapaksa was the President and Sirisena was a part of the government during the Eelam war that witnessed Tamil genocide. Both these men are against the Tamils in Sri Lanka and in Tamil Nadu", said Vaiko.
