Shun hatred towards other faiths: Rajapaksa

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While he was attempting to enter Sanchi defying police orders, MDMK leader Vaiko was on Friday arrested along with nearly 750 supporters at Gadchicholi village near the Madhya Pradesh-Maharastra border, about 370kms from MP capital Bhopal.

Vaiko and supporters have been camping at Gadhchicholi near Pandhurna for nearly three days after Bhopal police prevented them from entering Sanchi to protest against the visit of Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Laying the foundation stone for the International Buddhist University at Sanchi, 35kms off Bhopal early this evening, the Sri Lankan President said, “I think the message of tolerance and understanding is of great relevance today, as we see the tragic results of enmity and hatred towards other faiths leading to violence and destruction, and great loss to societies. This message of tolerance is of equal importance in the East and West alike.”

Vaiko and protesters, who even squatted and slept on the road during the three-day protest, were released later in the evening.

Briefing media persons moments after the arrest, Mr Vaiko threatened that MDMK would picket the Prime Minister’s residence in New Delhi if Rajapaksa visited India again.

Condemning the Congress led Centre and BJP, Mr Vaiko said the people of TN would not forgive them for inviting Rajapaksa, whom, they blamed, was guilty of war crimes committed during the last phase of Eelam war.

Holding that Centre’s reception to Rajapaksa had hurt the sentiments of Tamils, DMK president M. Karunanidhi, in a statement, asked the Centre to “wake up” to the development of Colombo cosying up to Pakistan and China.

“While it is unavoidable (as a matter of) protocol that Central government itself sends a minister to receive him with Prime Minister hosting him for a feast, those compassionate towards ‘Eelam’ Tamils are aware how much these (gestures) hurt sentiments of Tamils,” he said.

Referring to the recent arrest of a man with Paksitani link in Tiruchirappalli recently, Mr Karunanidhi said that it was a ploy by ISI to set base in Sri Lanka for its anti-Indian activities.

“Sri Lanka is not prepared to accept many humanitarian efforts offered by India but on the contrary is willing to get friendly with China and Pakistan,” he said, adding, Indian government must be aware of this and “not fall into the trap laid by Rajapakse... and should make efforts to save the rest of the Tamils there”.

189 activists held

As many as 189 volunteers belonging to Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) were arrested when they picketed the office of BSNL here protesting against the visit of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The police intervened and arrested them after the volunteers attempted to barge into the premises. Students of Government Law College boycotted classes and a section of the students also staged black flag protests.