It takes only a few people to give a whole State and country a bad name. Tamil chauvinist outfits working on the fringes of the political mainstream in Tamil Nadu have been organising protests and carrying out attacks against visiting Sri Lankan officials and academics in the guise of drawing attention to the Sri Lankan government's failure to ensure the rights of its Tamil citizens. Often, ordinary Sri Lankans on private visits have been the target of these groups claiming to act on behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu. In the latest instance, activists of Naam Tamizhar Iyakkam and May 17 Movement forced Jeeva Niriella, an academic from Sri Lanka, to cut short her participation in a function at the Manonmaniam Sundaranar University in Tirunelveli. Ms Niriella was an invited guest of the university, but, quite shockingly, the university registrar apologised to the protestors for having allowed her to attend the event held as part of the International Women's Day celebrations. That a handful of self-righteous individuals can compel a university to back off in this fashion speaks poorly not only of the university authorities, but also of the law enforcing machinery in the State. If not checked immediately, such instances can quickly lead to a culture of intolerance in Tamil Nadu, risking its reputation for peace and hospitality.
Sadly, the role of the Tamil Nadu government in dealing with episodes like these has been truly problematic. Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was well within her rights to insist that the Centre inform the State government about visits by Sri Lankan VIPs and other dignitaries to Tamil Nadu. Prior intimation would help the local authorities take precautionary security measures. But, in her letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Ms Jayalalithaa went on to urge the Government of India to discourage “such frequent visits” and allow such visits only after consulting the State government. Ms Jayalalithaa's stand appears to have emboldened the activists of fringe groups. Many people in Tamil Nadu and elsewhere in India have genuine concerns over the conduct of the Sri Lankan government in dealing with the rights of Sri Lankan Tamils. But this cannot be used as an excuse to target any and all Sri Lankans visiting the State, whether pilgrims, intellectuals or dignitaries. Ironically, some of those assaulted have been Tamils from across the Palk Strait. There are appropriate bilateral and multilateral forums and channels to raise issues such as the rights of Tamils in Sri Lanka. Little would be achieved by viewing anything and everything relating to Sri Lanka and Sri Lankans through this single prism.
