MDMK leader from Tamil Nadu Vaiko denied entry in Malaysia over LTTE links
- Tamil Nadu politician Vaiko was denied entry into Malaysia on Friday
- The MDMK chief had gone to Malaysia to attend a wedding at the behest of P Ramaswamy, the Deputy Chief Minister of Penang province
- He was barred from entering the country because his name was on a list of people dangerous for the country
FollowTamil Nadu politician Vaiko or V Gopalasamy was denied entry into Malaysia on Friday. He was held for questioning at the Kuala Lumpur airport. Vaiko was an ardent supporter of LTTE. Reportedly this is the reason for his detention.
Vaiko supported the LTTE cause of a separate Tamil country in Sri Lanka at the height of its activities. He had also made a trip to the Eelam when the LTTE were fighting the Sri Lankan army. Vaiko was the first Member of Parliament to be detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002.
However, he had impleaded with the tribunal that had ordered his detention. He said that he only supported the concept of a separate Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka and that doesn't mean he was advocating an independent State. He served an 18-month prison sentence after Criminal Investigation Department arrested him in 2008 on charges of sedition.
The MDMK chief had gone to Malaysia to attend a wedding at the behest of P Ramaswamy, the Deputy Chief Minister of Penang province. He was barred from entering the country because his name was on a list of people dangerous for the country.
According to NDTV Vaiko was detained at the immigration counter in Kuala Lumpur. The officials accused him of being an LTTE member despite him showing his Indian passport. He was made to sit at the immigration office and not allowed to go anywhere else. Vaiko indignantly refused to eat anything.
MDMK party workers protested at the Malaysian consulate in Chennai.
