Date:02/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/02/stories/2008010255271200.htm

National

Swamy scoffs at pro-LTTE MPs’ plea

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday termed as “ridiculous” the appeal of pro-LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) Members of Parliament of Sri Lanka to the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, not to visit the island-nation.

In a statement, Dr. Swamy said the MPs represented only the LTTE leader V. Prabakaran, “who is hiding from the law.”

They were elected in a rigged election and did not represent the Tamils. They should pay heed to what Union Shipping Minister T.R. Baalu told Parliament in the last winter session: “Consistent with the cordial and friendly relations between the two countries [India and Sri Lanka], the Government of India’s endeavour is to address the genuine concerns of the Government of Sri Lanka through mutual discussions….”

The Janata Party leader also wondered: “Who are the representatives of an internationally banned terrorist organisation to tell the PM not to come?”