“If Prime Minister Narendra Modi could accord a red carpet welcome to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, we will show black flag to him whenever he visits Tamil Nadu," said Vaiko, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary, here on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters, he said Tamils were massacred in the island nation by some Sinhalese groups led by Mr. Rajapaksa, and such a person was given State honour and accorded ‘royal’ welcome at Tirumala. This was not the first time that Tamils were betrayed by the BJP and this had prompted the MDMK to quit the NDA, he said.
The attack on MDMK volunteers by the police in Tirupati was condemnable. “Our cadre assembled to stage a demonstration against the Sri Lankan President. This is an accepted form of protest. We will fight till the end and uphold the self-respect of Tamils. The MDMK will lead demonstrations against Mr. Modi whenever he visits Tamil Nadu,” Mr. Vaiko said.
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MDMK cadres who staged protests at some places in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh were arrested and released later, the police said.