Vijay’s tribute to ex-LTTE chief Prabhakaran sparks row; BJP targets Rahul Gandhi
Chennai, May 19: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and TVK leader Vijay’s social media post on Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day has triggered a political…
Chennai, May 19: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and TVK leader Vijay’s social media post on Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day has triggered a political controversy, with the BJP attacking Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) defending the Chief Minister.
Vijay on Sunday posted on X: “We will carry the memories of Mullivaikkal in our hearts! We will always stand in solidarity for the rights of our Tamil kin living across the sea!”
The post was made on the death anniversary of former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) chief V Prabhakaran, who was killed by the Sri Lankan Army in Mullivaikkal on May 18, 2009.
BJP attacks Congress over Vijay post
BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya criticised Rahul Gandhi and the Congress for supporting Vijay’s minority government despite the controversy surrounding the LTTE.
“Tamil Nadu’s new Chief Minister has paid homage to LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran, whose outfit assassinated former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi,” Malviya said.
“Of course, Rahul Gandhi would have no problem with it, as long as the Congress gets a share of power,” he added, accusing the Congress of aligning with parties seen as sympathetic to the LTTE.
Prabhakaran was the main accused in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991. The LTTE remains a banned organisation in India.
TVK says post was about Tamil civilians
Defending Vijay, TVK sources clarified that the Chief Minister’s reference was to the suffering and deaths of thousands of Sri Lankan Tamils during the final phase of the civil war, and not specifically to Prabhakaran.
The sources pointed out that Vijay did not mention Prabhakaran by name in his post.
They said Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day is observed globally by Sri Lankan Tamils and sections of Tamils in India to remember civilians who were killed, injured, or went missing during the final military offensive in Sri Lanka in 2009.
Vijay had referred to Eelam Tamils earlier
During an election campaign in Nagapattinam district last September, Vijay had also spoken about the struggles of Eelam Tamils.
“Our umbilical-cord kin, the Eelam Tamils, whether they are in Sri Lanka or anywhere else in the world, are suffering after losing a leader who showed them motherly affection,” he had said.
Vijay’s remarks are considered politically sensitive, as ruling parties in Tamil Nadu have generally avoided being publicly seen as supportive of former LTTE chief Prabhakaran.
His minority government currently survives with the support of the VCK, a party known for its pro-LTTE stance.
