Vaiko arrested for attempted siege of Lankan mission in Chennai

MDMK Chief Vaiko has been arrested by the Chennai Police after he attempted to lay siege on the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission in Chennai yesterday.  

Vaiko, who led several pro-Tamil groups, was protesting against alleged war crimes and human rights violations committed by the Sri Lankan Government.

The MDMK Chief is demanding that New Delhi should vote against Colombo during the US-sponsored resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) later this month. He has also demanded an international probe on war crimes by the Sri Lankan Government.

Vaiko is joined by political parties in Tamil Nadu, including the Karunanidhi-led DMK, who have been pressing for India to vote against Sri Lanka at the United Nations forum.

External Minister Salman Khurshid had said in Rajya Sabha that while the Government shared the concern of the parties from Tamil Nadu, India would not intervene directly in Sri Lanka’s sovereign affairs.

The Minister had said that “accountability must come from within Sri Lanka,” but remained evasive on the position New Delhi will take at the UN on a resolution against Colombo.

India supported the US motion last year.