Mahinda blames RAW, CIA and MI-6 for his defeat

Saturday, 14 March 2015 00:57 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has claimed that India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) conspired with “Western agencies” the CIA and MI-6 to rally the Opposition led by President Maithripala Sirisena against his presidency. Rajapaksa has however said that he did not believe Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi or the Government was responsible for it. In an exclusive interview with The Hindu, his first to any Indian media organisation since his defeat in January, Rajapaksa said he raised concerns with the Government over his belief of a conspiracy. “I said the man (RAW station chief) who is here in Colombo, should be moved out. They agreed, but only at the very last minute before the election, and by then it was too late,” he has said at his residence in Colombo. In January, a Reuters report had claimed that an Indian intelligence official at the Indian High Commission in Colombo had been recalled over allegations he was part of a plan to unite and organise the opposition to Rajapaksa. The Reuter’s news report, quoting unnamed political and intelligence sources, said Sri Lanka expelled the Colombo station chief of India’s spy agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) in the run-up to the presidential election, accusing him of helping the Opposition oust President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin had categorically denied that the transfer of the official was anything but routine, and “in natural course.” While Rajapaksa alluded to the “RAW hand” in Sri Lankan politics in interviews to Dawn and South China Morning Post, this is the first time he has spelt out his accusation, saying that the plan to try and oust him began “two years ago.” When asked if he felt the RAW was working under political guidance, the former President has denied accusing the Indian Prime Minister. “No, no. I’ve never accused Modi because he only came in less than a year ago. It was a long-term plan. They misunderstood me over the Chinese question. And that is why they planned this,” Rajapaksa has said. The former President has confirmed that he will meet with Modi on 14 March. “I met him three times before. When he comes to my country, I felt I must meet him,” he has said. In the interview to The Hindu, Rajapaksa has not confirmed that he was considering a political comeback, but has expressed anger over the legal action taken by the current Sri Lankan government against his family members and associates. “If they didn’t, I would have just supported this Government. But now they want to probe, put us in jail, take our passports without any evidence. How can I retire like this? I never said I would retire. At the moment I am taking a rest,” he has said.