The BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit on Monday demanded that the Centre should allow Sri Lankan Tamils to enter the state through sea-route for visiting the temple festival at Chidambaram.
BJP state president L. Ganesan said the practice of pilgrims visiting Tamil Nadu for the 11-day ‘Tiruvadirai’ festival in Chidambaram from the northern parts of Sri Lanka through sea-route was in vogue till 1992.
“Now they have to take air-route by flying from Colombo, which is expensive. There are many difficulties for Tamils living in northern parts of Sri Lanka to travel to Colombo. The Government of India must therefore allow them to take the sea route to reach Tamil Nadu,” he said in a statement here.
The BJP leader also demanded that the Tamil Nadu Government provide transport arrangements for the pilgrims to reach the town.
The ‘Tiruvadirai’ festival will start on December 31, at the famous town of Chidambaram, 300 km from here, in Tamil Nadu.
