DMK, Congress responsible for genocide of Sri Lankan Tamils - Paneerselvam

Ruling AIADMK top leader O Paneerselvam Thursday accused the DMK and Congress of being responsible for the "genocide" of Tamils in Sri Lanka during the last phase of civil war in the island nation in May 2009. The two parties were in power in the Centre then but did nothing to protect the Lankan Tamils, he said campaigning for AIADMK Nilgiris Lok Sabha constituency candidate M Thiagarajan in Gudalur, about 60 km from here, in Nilgiris District.

"DMK and Congress are responsible for the genocide of Sri Lankan Tamils," he said. On the other hand, five members of the DMK alliance partners later visited Sri Lanka and received "valuable gifts" from the then President Mahinda Rajapaksha, Paneerselvam, who is the deputy chief minister of Tamil Nadu, charged.

Highlighting the achievements of the AIADMK, he credited late chief minister Jayalalithaa for making Tamil Nadu "a power-cut free" state in contrast to long periods of loadshedding witnessed during the DMK regime during 2006-11. The Nilgiris Lok Sabha seat is witnessing a direct contest between the AIADMK and its arch-rival DMK which has fielded former union minister A.Raja.

(With inputs from agencies.)