Chennai: Sri Lankan army’s article criticising the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, accompanied by a picture of her and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has created a furore in the state.
BJP allies PMK and MDMK are seeking severing of diplomatic relations with the island nation for the article which criticised the CMs letter to Modi on issues relating to Indian fishermen involving Sri Lanka.
PMK founder S Ramadoss said the article was ‘bad’ in taste and not only demeaned Jayalalithaa, but also Modi. He said such commentary in an official government site amounted to ‘interfering’ in the internal affairs of the country.
Sri Lanka has tendered an unqualified apology to PM Narendra Modi and J Jayalalitha for the article which Ramadoss alleged as a consequence of a BJP delegation led by party leader Subramanian Swamy’s visit to Sri Lanka.
Holding that India should not allow Sri Lanka to continue with such practices, he urged New Delhi to summon the envoy of that country and lodge a strong protest. “The Sri Lankan President (Mahinda Rajapakse) and Defence Secretary should apologise for the article. If the Sri Lankan government declines to do so, India should not hesitate to sever its relations with that country,” Ramadoss said.
He said that it was not proper to degrade Jayalalithaa, who was not only an elected leader, but also a woman. MDMK leader Vaiko described the incident as ‘unforgivable’ and said it showed the ‘atrocious’ nature of the Lankan army.