‘Lee Kuan Yew, a friend of Tamils’

A man bows to pay his respects to the late Lee Kuan Yew at a community club where members of the public can gather to express their condolences, Monday, March 23, 2015, in Singapore. Singaporeans wept and world leaders paid tribute Monday as the Southeast Asian city-state mourned the death of its founding father Lee Kuan Yew. The government announced that Lee, 91, "passed away peacefully" several hours before dawn at Singapore General Hospital. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Political leaders in Tamil Nadu condoled the death of former Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew, saying that the Tamils across the world have lost a good friend.

“He brought together various nationalities—Tamils, Malaysians and Chinese—and made Tamil one of the official languages,” said DMK leader M. Karurunanidhi.

Recalling the grand reception offered by Lee Kuan Yew when DMK founder Anna visited Singapore in 1965, Mr. Karunanidhi said the Singapore leader also enjoyed the speech made by Anna.

PMK leader S. Ramadoss said Lee Kuan Yew always insisted on granting Sri Lankan Tamils their rights and described as ethnic cleansing their killing while Indian leaders sought to portray their struggle as an act of terrorism.

“He maintained only a separate country could deliver Tamils from the clutches of Sinhalese hegemony and did not hesitate to call former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as terrorist,” said Dr Ramadoss.

MDMK general secretary Vaiko said Lee Kuan Yew, who had loved the Tamils in his country, had understood the just demands of the Sri Lankan Tamils and drew the world’s attention towards their struggle.

“He openly condemned Mahinda Rajapaksa and reiterated that Tamils were the original citizens of Sri Lanka. He also justified the armed struggle of the LTTE on the ground that it was against the majority Singhalese’s attempt to wipe out the Tamils,” he said.