Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) leader and Member of Parliament, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, accused the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) of deep-rooted racism and deception during a media briefing held yesterday at the TNPF’s headquarters in Kokuvil, Jaffna.
Ponnambalam criticised the JVP’s attempts to portray itself as a major force in both the South and the Tamil North-East, accusing the party of manufacturing a false narrative about its political standing among Tamil voters.
Out of the 19 Members of Parliament representing the North and East, only 8 belong to the JVP, Ponnambalam pointed out. The Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) also holds 8 seats, while the remaining positions are occupied by representatives from the Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) and one independent group.
In light of these facts, he questioned how the JVP could claim to have earned a mandate from the Tamil people. "This false narrative is being promoted both domestically and internationally," he warned, urging the public to recognise the JVP’s deceptive rhetoric and misleading strategies.
Ponnambalam further asserted that the JVP has no meaningful alignment with the Tamil national position. He criticised the party’s claim that federalism or autonomy is unnecessary, describing such rhetoric as condescending and dismissive of the Tamil people’s legitimate struggle for dignity and self-determination.
"In the past, ruling parties failed to win the hearts of the Tamil people due to their corruption and blatant racism. In contrast, our movement stands untainted by corruption or racism, which is why we continue to earn the support and trust of our people," Ponnambalam stated.
He went on to challenge the JVP’s professed commitment to equality. "If the JVP truly stands for equality and does not discriminate based on race or religion, then why have they failed to fulfil the promises they made regarding the real and pressing needs of the Tamil people?" he asked.
Ponnambalam also questioned whether intimidation and coercion now represent the JVP’s version of political change, warning that their inability to allocate resources fairly to the North-East exposed their "deep-rooted ethno-nationalist tendencies."
He highlighted the unresolved Thaiyiddy Vihara dispute as a key example of the JVP’s failures. Their failure to do even this reveals their true intent to dismiss Tamil concerns as mere ‘ethnic’ issues and avoid any real responsibility, Ponnambalam added.
Ponnambalam argued that "true racism lies in actions, not just words," accusing the JVP of avoiding accountability and perpetuating injustice. "Despite their claims, the JVP’s actions expose them as the true racists," he charged.
Issuing a stark warning ahead of the upcoming local elections, Ponnambalam urged Tamil voters to remain vigilant. He cautioned that supporting a party "rooted in Sinhala-Buddhist ethno-nationalism," like the JVP, would pose a serious threat to Tamil interests.
