Vaiko opposes defence pact with Lanka

As per an arrangement between the MDMK chief Vaiko and the Left parties, the UPA-Left co-ordination committee meeting on November 24, saw a brief discussion on the impending defence co-operation agreement India and Sri Lanka.

The CPI, which had even earlier expressed reservations about the deal, cautioned the government about proceeding carefully as any wrong move would have grave consequences for the security of the country, especially Tamil Nadu.

"We told the government that caution must be kept, looking back to past experiences," D Raja, CPI secretary, said. This stand was also reiterated by the CPI(M), sources said. Sitaram Yechury, CPI(M) politburo member, also warned the government against any move likely to repeat the Indian Peace Keeping Forces (IPKF) incident of 1987.

In response to Raja's comment, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reportedly told the Left parties that an Indian presence in Sri Lanka was necessary to keep Pakistan or China from becoming too influential in the region.

Mentioning the MDMK chief , Singh said he had already discussed the matter with Vaiko and that the government would keep these views in mind before proceeding on the issue.

The defence deal between the two countries is yet to be inked, though the terms have the agreement have been laid out and sent to Sri Lanka from the Indian side. India and Sri Lanka had agreed to expedite a defence co-operation agreement and also to expand economic ties during the Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse's visit in July 2004.

The agreement talks of providing training to Sri Lankan military personnel in India and supplying military equipment to the island nation. India had also agreed to extend a $150 million credit line to Sri Lanka to battle the effects of rise in global crude oil prices.

The LTTE had consequently opposed the pact contending any military alliance with India would be detrimental to the peace process in Sri Lanka.