Union minister of state for PMO V. Narayanasamy has called upon political parties in Tamil Nadu to desist from whipping up Tamil sentiments in the larger interest of protection of Tamils and businessmen and industrialists who had established their companies in Sri Lanka.
Mr Narayanasamy told mediapersons here that as soon as the issue of training of Lankan Air Force personnel at the IAF station at Tambaram cropped up, he spoke to Union defence minister A.K. Anthony and insisted that the training be stopped due to the “environment” prevailing in Tamil Nadu owing to the war between the LTTE and Lankan defence forces.
Mr Anthony contacted Mr Narayansamy over phone and assured that the training would not be conducted and it was for the Centre to decide where they would be trained later, he said.
Mr Narayanasamy said Sri Lanka was part of Saarc and there was every need for India to have cordial relations with that nation. China has been abundantly helping Lanka and was constructing a harbour.
A number of entrepreneurs from Tamil Nadu have been doing business in the island nation. So, it was important to have good relations with that country.
He also recalled that Tamils had told the parliamentary delegation, led by leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, to Sri Lanka recently, that they only wanted devolution of political powers and not a separate Eelam.