Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajpaksa who arrived to the country today, has faced a state-wide protest led by DMK chief M Karunanidhi, strongly opposed for alleged atrocities against Sri Lankan Tamils.
Rajpaksa with his wife and a 70-member delegation, visited on a pilgrimage to Tirupati and Bodh Gaya today, welcomed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and senior state government civil officers at the Gaya International Airport, official sources said.
Opposing the arrival of Sri Lankan President, a huge crowd of protesters, mingled in the crowd welcomed the dignitaries, shouting slogans the ‘Killer of Tamils go back’ they also tried to march towards the Prime Minister’s residence.
Sources said that Karunanidhi booked Rajapaksa with attempting to not only making efforts to ‘annihilate’ the Tamils but also erase the Tamil language, raising conflict between Lankan Army and LTTE.
“Now TESO was issuing a severe caution (by black flag demonstration), Rajapaksa should correct himself, and Centre also take steps to protect Tamils,” Karunanidhi said in a statement.
State Lawyers have boycotted courts and joined amidst protests by the CPI(M-L) Liberation cadres for, the supporters led to Karunanidhi who wore black clothes under the banner of the Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation, protesting against Rajapaksa.
Police said that MDMK chief Vaiko’s supporters who started shouting slogans as Rajapaksa’s motorcade entered the Mahabodhi temple, have arrested for questioning. More than two dozens of VCK led protesters were detained by police near the Tamil Nadu-Andhra Pradesh border.
“We will not forgive the Manmohan Singh government for supporting Sri Lanka in its war against Tamils,” Vaiko addressed his supporters, demanding to quit the Sri Lankan High Commission in the capital, reports said.
Various protest by pro-Tamil groups have called, another by the CPI(M-L) Liberation and All India Students Association, while some Protests were held in Tirupati and New Delhi.
