Former LTTE leader still inspires: Sridharan

Hailing the late LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran as a symbol of the freedom struggle of Eelam Tamils, TNA MP Sridharan on Sunday was quoted by Indian media as saying  as long as Tamils live, the Tamil Tiger leader will inspire Tamils in their fight for justice.

“We have heard of the achievements of great Tamil kings of the Chera, Chola and Pandya lineage. But, it is Prabhakaran who has shown us that an independent State  can be run with an army, navy, air force and police. We have seen him and his  achievements with our own eyes. After Selva, who fought in non- violent ways, Prabhakaran is our leader given by nature and history. His name itself is a slogan and there are no protests by Tamils without his portrait”, he was quoted as saying in a report by the new Indian Express.

Sridharanwas quoted in the report as saying “For some, Prabhakaran is a terrorist. For us, he is a leader who gave the Tamil race an identity”.

Speaking at the Sangam 4 Tamil festival on ‘Velupillai Prabhakaran’s place in the history of Tamils’, he hailed former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for declaring in the Indian Parliament that the Lankan government was committing genocide, the report said.