Madurai: A day after some MDMK cadres were detained by the Andhra Pradesh police who wanted to protest against the visit of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to Tirupati, party leader Vaiko said black flags would be shown to Prime Minister Narendra Modi whenever he visits Tamil Nadu as the party believes that Modi has acted against the interests of Tamils.
"Whenever Modi comes to Tamil Nadu, we will show black flag to him. Modi is the one who brought Rajapaksa here. Even then, Andhra chief minister should not have allowed him to visit Tirumala Venkateswara Temple. Rajapaksa destructed around 1,500 temples in Sri Lanka constructed by the Sri Lankan Tamils," he said.
Tamils should protest against Modi and not against Andhra people and the AP government for allowing Rajapaksa visit the temple, he said. The Andhra Pradesh police detained MDMK cadres and some journalists last week while they were protesting against the visit of Rajapaksa to the temple. Later some of the detained were released.
"We don't demand the release of MDMK cadres. But the journalists who were arrested by the Andhra police should be released. Severe action should be taken against the police for their excess against Tamils and the journalists," he said.
Rajapaksa offers prayers
Earlier, Sri Lankan President offered prayers at the temple of Lord Venkateswara. After an overnight stay in the sacred town, he took part in the Suprabhata seva in the temple in the wee hours of the day. Despite being entitled for the Mahadwaram entry, he preferred reaching the temple through the Vaikuntam queue complex along with his entourage.
While the temple priests honoured him with the silk vastram of the deity, the authorities presented him with the New year diary, calendar and memento of the Lord. The President's son Yoshita Rajapaksa, who accompanied him, also participated in the Thomala seva.
Meanwhile, the police resorted to mild force to quell a group of protesters, believed to be sympathisers of various Tamil political parties, at Lepakshi circle when they allegedly tried to force their way towards the main temple complex amidst sloganeering even while the President was inside the temple.
