Reception to Rajapakse has hurt Tamil sentiments: Karunanidhi

Chennai: Key UPA ally DMK on Friday said the Centre's reception to visiting Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse has hurt the sentiments of Tamils and asked it to "wake up" to the development of Colombo cosying up to Pakistan and China.

Party chief M Karunanidhi said both the Centre and AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu were "not bothered" about the strong opposition to the Lankan leader's Indian visit to attend a Buddhist function in Madhya Pradesh.

"While it is unavoidable (as a matter of) protocol that Central government itself sends a minister to receive him with Prime Minister hosting him for a feast, those compassionate towards 'Eelam' Tamils are aware how much these (gestures) hurt sentiments of Tamils," he said in a letter to partymen.

The DMK chief said that both the Centre and AIADMK government were not bothered about the strong opposition to Rajapakse\'s visit.

He said Sri Lanka was getting close to Pakistan and China and was thus "posturing against India".

He referred to reports on Colombo and Beijing inking pacts worth thousands of crores of rupees under which the latter will execute infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka besides the recent visit of a top Chinese leader to that country.

Citing the recent arrest of a person from Tiruchirappalli in the state, for his alleged links with a Pakistani diplomat in Lanka, he said this was a ploy by ISI to set base in that country to take up anti-India activities.

"Sri Lanka is not prepared to accept many humanitarian efforts offered by India but on the contrary is willing to get friendly with China and Pakistan," he said, adding, Indian government must be aware of this and "not fall into the trap laid by Rajapakse... And should make efforts to save the rest of the Tamils there".

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