The Communist Party of India said that by inviting Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the swearing-in ceremony on May 26, Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi had undermined the views of the Tamil-speaking people.
“The CPI deplores and disapproves of this move of the new dispensation to invite Rajapaksa. This not only hurts the feelings of the Tamil people but also implies that their views are being ignored and undermined,” said national secretary D. Raja. The decision “cannot be justified merely as a goodwill gesture of inviting neighbours because the BJP is fully aware of the situation in Sri Lanka and outside, as May 18 was observed as the fifth anniversary of the killing of thousands of Tamil-speaking people in 2009.”
Congress stand “Who has to be invited is a decision that has been taken by Mr. Modi. But we are of the view that the Tamil sentiments should be taken care of,” Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed told reporters.
