VAIKO, SUPPORTERS ARRESTED FOR PROTESTING RAJAPAKSA VISIT

MDMK chief Vaiko was arrested by Parliament Street police station in New Delhi on Friday along with 60 -70 supporters while protesting against Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s visit to India. 

Vaiko was arrested while leading the MDMK protest march from Parliament Street to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s residence in the Indian capital. 

Rajapaksa’s visit led to an outrage among pro-Tamil groups with the DMK too taking to the streets to protest against the Sri Lankan President’s presence in India. The DMK, led by M Karunanidhi and his daughter Kanimozhi, are leading protests in Chennai. 

Meanwhile President Rajapaksa arrived in Bodh Gaya (Bihar) Friday to pray at a temple site where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment, on the first day of a two-day trip to India.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar received him at the Gaya international airport, an official said.

“Rajapaksa and his delegation flew in to offer prayers at the Mahabodhi temple,” a police official told IANS in Gaya, about 100 km from Patna.

He immediately left for the temple, where he is likely to spend an hour.

Security was tight in and around Bodh Gaya in view of the CPI-ML’s threat to stage a protest against Rajapaksa.

Bodh Gaya’s 1,500-year-old Mahabodhi Temple is considered the holiest Buddhist shrine. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002.