Stop training Lankan Army personnel: CPI to govt

CPI National Secretary D Raja dashed off a letter to Defence Minister A K Antony explaining the opposition to the training programme to Sri Lankan Army personnel in the state.

He dubbed as "highly deplorable" Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju's statement that the training would continue.

"Instead of taking note of the strong feelings that prevail in Tamil Nadu over the issue of giving training to Sri Lankan Army, which carried out genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka and committed war crimes, the government has reiterated its commitment to continue the training programme," Raja rued.

"The recent statement by Raju has further infuriated the already hurt feelings of Tamil people," the CPI MP said.

Raja told Antony that the government should immediately stop training Sri Lankan Army and make a categorical assurance to the people of Tamil Nadu in this regard.

The training to Sri Lankan Army was shifted from Chennai after a row erupted in July but parties in Tamil Nadu oppose training to the personnel from the neighbouring country anywhere in India.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and DMK chief M Karunanidhi have been demanding that the training programme be scrapped immediately.