In an apparent attack on DMK chief M Karunanidhi, who criticised Chief Minister’s J Jayalalithaa’s action of sending back football players from Sri Lanka, the AIADMK supremo said on Thursday that only people with self-respect could speak of the island Tamils.
Recalling that the Union government acted in support of the Lankan government and military during the ‘genocide of Lankan Tamils’, she said Karunanidhi, who was unable to question the Central government’s action, was opposing her government’s move for protecting the welfare of island Tamils.
Narrating an incident from the life of Justice Party founder Sir P T Thiyagaraya, hailed as ‘Velludai Vendhar’ (king in white clothes), Jayalalithaa said when he was asked to change his usual white dress and turban to welcome the Prince of Wales by the British Governor Lord Wellington, Thiyagaraya, who founded the movement for self-respect, refused to change his attire. Finally, the British government permitted him to welcome the Prince in his usual attire.
“This is an example for the self-respect of Tamils. Those who have this kind of self-respect alone can speak about Sri Lankan Tamils. It will be good if others did not speak about it”.
“Those who have lost self-respect due to selfishness should not find fault on my actions which expresses opposition to the Lankan government which is destroying the welfare of island Tamils”, she said.
Explaining her decision to send back the football players from Lanka, the Chief Minister said “I insisted the Centre to abandon the military training for Lankan personnel in India. Since, the island Tamils have not been rendered justice, I we banned Lankan football players from getting training in Tamil Nadu.
People of Tamil Nadu as well as Tamils living worldwide commended my action”, she said and added that her government was also firm that no obstacle should be caused to the tourists and pilgrims from the island nation.
Comments
0 comment