Expressing concern over “hostility” against Sri Lankan visitors in Tamil Nadu, the CPI (M) on Tuesday said nothing should be done to disturb people-to-people relations whatever be the Lankan government’s approach towards the Tamil issue.
“Whatever the differences and opposition that exists regarding the Sri Lankan government’s approach to the Tamil question in Sri Lanka, nothing should be done to disturb people-to-people relations,” the CPI (M) Polit Bureau said in a statement here.
Maintaining that friendly relations between the people of the two countries have to be strengthened, it voiced concern at “the hostility displayed towards the people from Sri Lanka who are visiting Tamil Nadu”.
It was “very unfortunate” that two football teams of schoolboys from Sri Lanka were sent back from Tamil Nadu “at the instance of the state government,” the party said.
It said some Lankan pilgrims visiting a church in Tiruvavur also had to return following harassment. “The CPI (M) condemns this incident,” the statement said.
The party appealed to the people and the political forces in Tamil Nadu to ensure that friendly and harmonious relations are maintained with the people of Sri Lanka.
CPI(M) has spoken sense as a responsible mainstream political party. This issue centers on decency of individuals. Regardless of the political differences between factions, people should respect each other. Indians must realize that if they allow the political bandits to take hostage of the politics, Chinese will swamp India at their own door-step. It is not bravery one displays when dishing out violence on the helpless.
@ganesh: These foreign civilians did not conduct the killings in Sri
Lanka, and hostility towards them is unwarranted. Violence and threat of
violence has no place in civil society. Tamils did not bring disgrace to
the country, but a small section that condones violence do. If you have
a problem with Sri Lankans visiting India, take it up with the Central
Government, and not issue them visas -- it is a certain way to prevent
them from coming, and also put the issue on notice.
Its funny how people do not ask what tamil nadu fishermen were doing in Sri Lankan waters in the first place. Indian fisherman were never killed by the Sri Lankan navy and that fact is stated by India's own coastguard. The problem seems to be that Indian Tamils are so naive that they will believe anything their politicians say. It is the Sri Lankan tamil fisherman who suffer when indians poach in Sri lankan waters. Not the singhalese.
The fact that Tamil Nadu is now stoning Sri Lankan tamil christians on pilgrimage goes to show how mislead, uninformed and ignorant people in Tamil Nadu really are.
When the SriLankan Military butchered Tamils, where was CPM?
Even now, Tamils in SriLanka are treated subservient to Sinhalese majority. Why is CPM not talking about harmony in SriLanka?
Hello Ganesh. I completly agree with your comment. I am myself Sinhalese and i know for facts 90 % of the sri lankans on the buss was Lankan tamils. What a welcome they got ? They who thought tamil nadu care about them?. Anyway what i wanted to say is, This type of internal conflicts and hatred , ethnic/racial by "ALL south asians" who is Indian racialy...but by nationallity different. This is the way the europeans wants us to do ..Devide and attack ourselfs...make indian people devided like the arab
We shuld unite together.
By the indian fishermans attackd by the lankan navy, Many of these reports is not true, alot of fake reports to spread more hatred against sri lanka. This was even stated by an indian tamil in the news today.
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Gnanadesikan
. Not only tamils died, thousands of sinhalese people got sloughtered by the terrorists. Just search for "kent and dollar farm" massacer . there you can see tamls smashing Sinha childrens heads to walls.
Hundreds of fishermen from Tamil Nadu have been brutally attacked and murdered by the Sinhala state forces and nobody stated that they attacked the Indians. Where is your patriotism gone when Tamil fishermen were brutally targeted?
When the Rule of Law and Justice fails to uphold independently, state terrorism is unleashed on ordinary Tamil civilians, how can the Indian UPA regime call the Sri Lankan regime as a friendly nation?
My dad used to tell me even the adults fight should not be taken to children. If I apply that
logic to governance the political fight should not be bothering the innocent people including
the pilgrims or children from Srilanka. While we keep opposing Srilanka and India
Governments we should never fight the common public. The common people in both
Srilanka and Tamilnadu are peace loving . Cricket used to be played between Srilanka and
Madras teams in the past. We have to develop more such people to people contacts. That is
the only way to solve the problem.
Ganesh: Do you have links to reports about "hundreds of Fishermen being killed"? Definitely fishermen have been killed but why put the issue in doubt by claiming the death of hundreds? Also, I guess that in your opinion as a real (not pseudo) patriot, India's foreign policy interests are best served by expelling football playing school children and churchgoers?
The CPI(M) is right on this one. Forcing foreigners who are here on a goodwill mission to leave will sow the seeds of bitterness and discrimination. Anyone can be branded as the 'other' and treated likewise. 'Atithi devo bhava' is not just a nice sounding slogan, it actually leads to social justice and fairness to all.
There is no link between tamil fishermen/women being killed and this disgraceful act of the Tamil Nadu CM. Since when does the act of the CM represent the wishes of the (Tamil) people?
The comment by "ganesh " re.the CPI (M) stand on the harassment to individual Srilankans who visit Tamilnadu for sports or pilgrimage is silly. Though it is true that a govt. is by the people, of the people and for the people, yet in fact it turns out these days that the rulers once they get elected go as far away as possible from the common people an it is well-nigh impossible for the commoner to get it rid of them so easily. We have our own UPA whose political twists and turns make us hang our heads in shame but we have to suffer for another two years !!. So the stand that people-to people contacts between Srilanka and us must not be hurt simply because of political gimmicks on both sides-- particularly considering the fact that we both share a common and strong spiritual, religious and social bond in all aspects.
@ganesh
"When hundreds of fishermen of Tamilnadu is being killed by Sri Lankan Navy" care to give evidence for the hundreds killed?? references will do
The same CPM's members of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly had supported the economic blockade of SriLanka.
Why did it change its tune now? CPM always has separate stand for Tamils and different stand for Non-Tamils.
CPM will be exposed in the coming elections.
TamilNaidu Govt should try to averse such kind of nuisance stuff just for political gain . They are not hurting India's relation with Srilanka by creating mistrust but also hurting Tamilian people interest in Srilanka who are there and trying to be a part and parcel of society . Such kind of activities not only fuel anti Tamil sentiments among Sinhalese there but bring Indian Govt in bad light.
Happy to see at last hamara hindustan start to consider tamils, as their fellow countrymen. When hundreds of fishermen of Tamilnadu is being killed by Sri Lankan Navy, you never thought that they were your Indian brothers or raised voice. When 184 foreign nationals were asked to go out of TN, you shout tamils brought disgrace to country. Shame on you pseudo-patriots........
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