The Hindu : National : Vaiko against provision of defence aid to Sri Lanka

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Sunday, Jun 12, 2005

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National

Vaiko against provision of defence aid to Sri Lanka

Special Correspondent

Offer of RADAR system to provide air cover

CHENNAI: The general secretary of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that in the name of bilateral cooperation, India should not provide any defence equipment to Sri Lanka.

In a letter to Mr. Singh, Mr. Vaiko said that when he met him on June 4 he had assured him that India would not sign any defence pact with the island nation. He recalled that earlier too, the Prime Minister had said that India would not sign any such defence agreement. He and the Defence Minister had reiterated the same at the UPA meeting later.

The MDMK leader said he was shocked on reading the statement of External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, at the joint press conference in Colombo that the proposed bilateral defence cooperation agreement was in the process of being finalised. There were press reports that India had offered RADAR system to provide air cover for Colombo and Sri Lanka defence establishments.

He said the "racist Sri Lanka Government had been taking all steps to hoodwink India, so that Sri Lanka could enter into a defence cooperation agreement with India". Any such defence agreement would be the "worst fatal blunder" committed by India. Any military help to the Sri Lanka Government would cause unhealable wounds in Tamils, not only on the island but also in Tamil Nadu, he said.

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