NDA government taking steps to protect interests of Sri Lankan Tamils: Nadu Pon Radhakrishnan

COIMBATORE: NDA Government would not accept or tolerate any activity by Sri Lanka which would amount to treating Tamils there as slaves, Union Minister and senior BJP leader from Tamil Nadu Pon Radhakrishnan said today.

The handling of Sri Lankan Tamils issue by the previous Congress-led UPA Government was against the interests of Tamils. However, the NDA Government was taking necessary steps, taking into account the interests and welfare of Tamils, he told reporters at the airport here.

Asserting that Modi Government will not mete out step-motherly treatment to any state, he said it was formulating various development schemes for the benefit of the states and the entire country.

On charges of Hindi imposition, Radhakrishnan, Minster of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, said he was among the hundreds of "victims" of anti-Hindi agitation. Now, he has engaged a teacher and was learning Hindi.

Several anti-Hindi agitators from DMK had "indirectly" learnt Hindi, which was not highlighted by media, he charged.