SL Tamils will not be helped by chauvinist attacks on President Rajapaksa - Economic Times of India

If Tamil Nadu politicians think that the people of Tamil Nadu do not have the sense to realise that their aggressive competition to stage the most attention-grabbing protest against [President Mahinda] Rajapaksa will only harm the Lankan Tamils, they are sadly mistaken, the Economic Times of India editorial said.

"Money could not buy the support of the Tamil voters in their last assembly elections, as voters have developed too much self-respect to accept being treated as dumb creatures who would tolerate corruption by their leaders so long as they got some cash at the time of elections. "That maturity is likely to extend to their response to competitive aggression against the visiting head of state," the editorial added.

The editorial added: " President Mahinda Rajapaksa has commenced his visit to India, to the delight of assorted self-styled champions of Sri Lankan Tamils in India, most notably, Vaiko. Many groups and parties in Tamil Nadu seek to mobilise local support in the name of Sri Lankan Tamils.

"Their competition with one another in this race has degenerated into wholly retrograde measures such as attacking visiting pilgrims from Lanka, calling for banning football matches between Lankan schools and Indian ones, etc.

"Now, they have pounced on the Sri Lankan President's visit to India as a great opportunity to show off their zeal in support of Lankan Tamils.

"India has to promote people-to-people ties, build an expansive economic relationship with Lanka that gives a large cross-section of Lankans a vital stake in maintaining good relations with India. National leaders must convey this to the people and checkmate the chauvinists."

Courtesy: priu.gov.lk