Tamil Nadu’s BJP leader visits ‘timeless’ city of Jaffna and meets with TNA

The leader of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) party in Tamil Nadu visited Jaffna earlier today, where he met with politicians from the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and visited the historic Nallur temple.

K Annamalai tweeted about his visit to the “historic & timeless” city, posting photographs at various stops in the region.

“Humbled to have visited Nallur Kandasamy Temple to take the blessings of Lord Muruga for the prosperity of all Tamils,” he added.

Later in the day he met with the TNA’s MA Sumanthiran, Mavai Senathirajah, CVK Sivagnamam, S Sritharan and Siddharthan amongst other senior figures from the party.

Whilst in Jaffna, Annamalai also met with 12 Tamil Nadu fishermen who was arrested by Sri Lankan authorities in March and remain detained at Jaffna prison. Earlier in the week, he had taken part in the May Day celebrations of the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) in Nuwara Eliya.

Annamalai also spoke on the recent resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu state assembly on sending aid to Sri Lanka, and took a swipe at the ruling DMK party.

“Our concern is that this resolution passed recently should not be another record 2-hour-fast type situation orchestrated [by then Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi] to create a mirage that the DMK worked hard for the ceasefire during the Civil War,” he said, referring to a short fast the former Tamil Nadu leader made as the Sri Lankan military bombed Tamils in 2009.

“We are hopeful that the Government of Tamil Nadu will now hand over the aid package as in the resolution passed in the Assembly on behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu to the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure smooth passage to Sri Lanka without insisting on delivering it directly politicising the standard protocols,” he added.

The BJP leader’s trip to the North-East comes as the party looks to gain a foothold in Tamil Nadu.