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invite to rajapaksa
Modi ‘won’t yield’ on TN parties’ demand
Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 23
Despite opposition from Tamil Nadu parties against the invitation to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony on May 26, the BJP is unlikely to pay much heed to it.

Party’s pre-poll Tamil Nadu ally MDMK chief Vaiko today also met BJP president Rajnath Singh to lodge his protest. “I met Rajnath ji, told him that participation of Mahinda Rajapaksa, the butcher of Tamils, will be the saddest day for Tamils all over the world,” Vaiko said.

“I told Rajnath ji that please take up the issue with Modi ji and avoid Rajapaksa’s attendance in the swearing-in,” he added.

However, terming it a “non-issue”, BJP sources said “everyone, including Vaiko, is just playing to their audience. Vaiko’s sympathy towards LTTE cause is well known”.

They added that Vaiko, who drew a blank in the recently concluded elections, was trying for a Rajya Sabha berth from outside the state. Modi’s foreign policy, like his Cabinet, would be “unique” and refreshing” they added.

“His first priority would be the countries in the immediate neighbourhood. Given the majority the BJP has received, Modi is not dependent on Tamil parties to run the government. He will follow a more independent policy on neighbouring countries, including Sri Lanka. The invitation for SAARC leaders is meant to improve diplomatic ties. The MDMK is one of the six parties with which the BJP forged an alliance ahead of the elections and it knows our stand,” a BJP leader said.

Though Vaiko pointed out how no Sri Lankan head of the state was invited when Vajpayee was sworn in as PM and Manmohan Singh did not invite the Sri Lankan President for his swearing-in, he refused to oblige on whether he would boycott the ceremony if Rajapaksa participated.