Front Page   

Worries mount on LTTE threat to Sonia

NEW DELHI: India’s intelligence services have become increasingly concerned about the prospect of an election-time attack by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam on top political leaders, including Congress party chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Sources in the intelligence services have told The Hindu that while there is no substantive intelligence to indicate that assassinations or attacks have been ordered by the LTTE, the inflammatory language being used by the terrorist group’s supporter in India was a cause for concern.

In a speech delivered on Wednesday, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader V. Gopalswamy, also known as Vaiko, warned of large-scale secessionist violence if Sri Lankan forces killed LTTE chief V. Prabakaran.

He made a reference to the assassination of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in Sriperumbudur, and warned India of a secessionist movement if it did not push for an end to Sri Lanka’s anti-LTTE campaign.

The MDMK polemic isn’t the sole cause for concern among the intelligence services. Facing annihilation in Sri Lanka, some analysts fear, the LTTE could unleash violence within India to coerce its political leadership and create conditions where it could set up safe havens in Tamil Nadu.

In recent weeks, the LTTE has succeeded in slowing down offensive Sri Lankan military operations by using the civilian population in the Mullaitivu region as human shields.

In a March 26 report, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes called for a “humanitarian pause” in operations — a demand Sri Lanka rejected, pointing out that it would give the LTTE time to regroup.

Stories in this Section

Worries mount on LTTE threat to Sonia
Vaiko warns of bloodbath in Tamil Nadu
We will not support government led by Congress or BJP, says Naveen Patnaik
VCK not to campaign for Congress
U.S. for involving India in global issues
Orissa has lost its sanctity and peace, says Rahul Gandhi
India-China relations in one of the best periods in history
India-Kuwait entente seen
Sikhs disrupt rail services
“Further violence will hinder Orissa progress”
“Muslims are victims of vote bank politics”
Why manifestos matter
A leaderless region at the polls
The competitive politics of rice
Emphatic win for India
Jeev excited at being paired with Woods
Wisden honour for Sehwag
Ripon Building to get annexe soon
End the waiting, real estate developers tell consumers
Sensex bounces back from early lows
Sonia hits out at the Left
Power cut for consumers enhanced
Why Sonia mum on nuclear deal, asks Karat
Poor response to handloom mark scheme in Salem district
Survey of birds begins in different parts of Kanyakumari district
Mulayam to speak to Amar, Azam
Remodelling of ‘raja kaluve’ leaves many homes in a mess
On home turf
More railway coaches allotted
Plea against Chamling
‘Congress believes every Indian is equal’
A bolt from the blue
India’s spy satellite to eye terrorists
Pottu Amman “takes charge” of LTTE

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu