PTI | CHENNAI | APR 11, 2012
Expressing displeasure over the itinerary of the all-party MPs delegation scheduled to visit Sri Lanka next week, AIADMK leader Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today announced pulling out her party's lone representative A William Rabi Bernard from the team.
Jayalalithaa slammed the "anti-Tamil" approach of Sri Lanka as regards rehabilitation of internally displaced Tamils, Lankan navy's attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen, Colombo's recent objection to Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant on radiation grounds and said she did not want this visit to be a "mere eye-wash like the previous one" comprising of DMK and Congress MPs including Kanimozhi.
"According to itinerary sent by External Affairs Ministry, there are no opportunities to interact with war-affected persons and know about their difficulties while the priority is placed on feasts with President Mahinda Rajapakse and Lankan authorities," she said in an official statement.
From the looks of it, this visit seemed more like a "formality," and prepared by Sri Lankan government to favour itself, she said adding the absence of journalists and independent monitors in the delegation "further strengthens my apprehensions."
"A lack of enough opportunities to interact with the affected persons is disappointing. I wish to inform that AIADMK is withdrawing from the delegation and its member Bernard will not participate (in its functions)," she said.
An all-party MPs delegation led by Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka from April 16 to April 21 to assess the resettlement and political process.
Expressing displeasure over the itinerary of the all-party MPs delegation scheduled to visit Sri Lanka next week, AIADMK leader Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today announced pulling out her party's lone representative A William Rabi Bernard from the team.Jayalalithaa slammed the "anti-Tamil" approach of Sri Lanka as regards rehabilitation of internally displaced Tamils, Lankan navy's attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen, Colombo's recent objection to Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant on radiation grounds and said she did not want this visit to be a "mere eye-wash like the previous one" comprising of DMK and Congress MPs including Kanimozhi.
"According to itinerary sent by External Affairs Ministry, there are no opportunities to interact with war-affected persons and know about their difficulties while the priority is placed on feasts with President Mahinda Rajapakse and Lankan authorities," she said in an official statement.
From the looks of it, this visit seemed more like a "formality," and prepared by Sri Lankan government to favour itself, she said adding the absence of journalists and independent monitors in the delegation "further strengthens my apprehensions."
"A lack of enough opportunities to interact with the affected persons is disappointing. I wish to inform that AIADMK is withdrawing from the delegation and its member Bernard will not participate (in its functions)," she said.
An all-party MPs delegation led by Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka from April 16 to April 21 to assess the resettlement and political process.
