Indian delegation disappoints civil representatives in Vanni

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 April 2012, 23:53 GMT]
Civil representatives in Mullaiththeevu on Wednesday said that they were not provided any opportunity to meet and convey the plight of resettled Tamils in the district to the visiting delegation of Indian parliamentarians led by Mrs Sushma Swaraj. The Tamil representatives belonging to several civil organisations in the district had been invited and were waiting for a long time since 10:00 a.m. to meet the delegation. But, no meeting took place. The visiting delegation was taken on a ‘guided tour’ giving priority to inaugurations and distributing gifts. The Congress group of the delegation which came late to the opening ceremony of a housing scheme was seen quarrelling with the group of parliamentarians led by Mrs Sushma Swaraj of the BJP, who had declared the scheme open, news sources in Mullaiththeevu told TamilNet.

The bickering and exasperation of the Congress group consisting mostly of Tamil MPs went to the extent of the group even throwing away the garlands people donned to them.

The Indian parliamentarians were first taken to Maagnchoalai hospital in Mullaiththeevu.

But, the civil representatives waiting at the Maangchoalai hospital from 10:00 a.m. were not provided with the opportunity of having a meeting with the visiting parliamentarians. They were only shown to the MPs.

Then, the delegation went to Ponnakar in Mu'l'liyava'lai West, where they ceremonially declared open a housing scheme of 50 houses.

Later, the delegation was also taken to Tha'n'niyoottu Government Tamil Mixed School to a ceremonial distribution of 140 bicycles to selected civilians and declared open a school building that had been renovated. The delegation also provided some equipments to an Indian organisation engaged in de-mining activities.

The visiting parliamentarians took part in a lunch meeting at Mullaiththeevu District Secretariat.

The delegation left for Jaffna in the evening, where it was received by Douglas Devananda, the EPDP paramilitary leader and SL minister in Rajapaksa regime.

Mr. R. Sampanthan of the TNA arrived in Jaffna to meet the Indian delegation there.

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