Jayalalithaa asks PM to respect Tamil sentiments

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday expressed surprise at the central government's declaration that India would continue to train Sri Lankan defence personnel.

Jayalalithha reiterated that the two Sri Lankan defence personnel being trained at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington in Tamil Nadu, should be sent back.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Jayalalithaa said: "I am surprised to learn that the Government of India has openly declared that the said training will go on since Sri Lanka is a friendly country. This betrays the total insensitivity on the part of the Government of India towards the views of my government as well as the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu."

Jayalalithaa expressed surprise at the central government\'s declaration that India would continue to train Lankan defence personnel.

Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju said on Monday that Sri Lanka was a friendly country and India would continue to train military personnel from that country.

"The government of India should give up such a condemnable attitude and show more consideration and regard for the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu by sending the defence personnel back to Sri Lanka immediately," Jayalalithaa said.

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