(Image source from: Publictv.in)
The superstar of Tamil Nadu, who has become the Chief Minister, Vijay, has sparked a huge controversy by paying respects to V Prabhakaran, the leader of the banned group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The BJP criticized Congress in response, reminding opposition leader Rahul Gandhi that the LTTE was involved in the killing of his father, former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. Defending Vijay, members of his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, emphasized that his mention was about the massacre of many Tamils in Sri Lanka and not solely concerning Prabhakaran's death. Prabhakaran was identified as the key figure in Rajiv Gandhi's murder in 1991, leading to the LTTE being banned in India for its involvement in the assassination of a sitting prime minister. The Congress party, historically led by the Gandhi family, now supports Vijay's minority government in Tamil Nadu. Prabhakaran was killed by the Sri Lankan army in Mullivaikkal, Sri Lanka, on May 18, 2009. On the anniversary of his death, Vijay talked about Mullivaikkal and wrote on X, "We will keep the memories of Mullivaikkal in our hearts! We will always support the rights of our Tamil brothers and sisters living abroad! "
Amit Malviya, the head of the BJP's media team, criticized Rahul Gandhi for Vijay's tribute to Prabhakaran, reminding him of the LTTE's role in his father's assassination. "The new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has honored LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, whose group killed former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Of course, Rahul Gandhi would not mind this, as long as Congress gains some power. The DMK has also defended the LTTE, yet Congress has remained comfortable being allied with them," he stated. According to TVK sources, the mention of 'Mullivaikkal' refers to the slaughter of thousands of Lankan Tamils in Sri Lanka, not just to the death of former LTTE leader Prabhakaran. It is the responsibility of any thoughtful leader to remember the innocent lives lost, they pointed out, noting that the Chief Minister did not include Prabhakaran's name in his message. The Tamil community worldwide, along with some Tamils in India, remembers May 18 as Mullivaikal Remembrance Day, also known as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day.
It honors the many Tamil civilians who lost their lives, were hurt, or went missing during the intense fighting in the coastal village of Mullivaikkal, which tragically marked the end of the Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009. This ethnic conflict lasted almost 30 years and started from the desire for a separate nation for Lankan Tamils in Sri Lanka, but it escalated into a full-on war in its last stage. The issue of Sri Lankan Tamils was not a significant topic in the recent elections, but Vijay, whose TVK group gained control, mentioned the former LTTE leader in his campaign speeches. While speaking in the Nagapattinam area last September, he stated, "Our close relatives, the Eelam Tamils, whether in Sri Lanka or anywhere around the globe, are in pain after losing a leader who cared for them like a mother. " "It is our responsibility to speak out for them," he added. Vijay's acknowledgment of the former LTTE leader is uncommon because ruling parties in Tamil Nadu typically avoid showing support for Prabhakaran. His small government relies on backing from the VCK, a group known for its support of the LTTE.
