Sushma did not invite Rajapaksa

State BJP president Pon Radhakrishnan on Wednesday categorically denyed that it was BJP leader Sushma Swaraj who had invited Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to take part in the foundation laying ceremony for a Buddhist university at Sanchi. He urged all political parties in the State to unitedly oppose Rajapaksa’s visit with one voice, adding that Swaraj would support this call.

“Tamil Nadu BJP has maintained that Rajapakse must not be allowed to visit any part of India, ever since the onslaught against Tamils in Sri Lanka began in 2008. This is a view that we have held throughout, and continue to hold,” said Radhakrishnan. He added that the authority of extending invitations to heads of State and governments of foreign countries rested with the Centre alone. He further asked Tamil political parties to remember that those who aided war criminals were considered equally guilty of the war crimes. “The Centre is trying to blame its failures on others through rumours. In this case, Swaraj is repeatedly being blamed for the invitation to Rajapaksa by the Congress, who are the real culprits,” he said.