Chennai: Sri Lankan Community Development Minister and a leader of Sri Lankan Tamils of Indian Origin, P Chandrasekaran has requested the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to release MDMK chief Vaiko and Tamil National Movement Leader P Neduraman, arrested under Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) for their open support to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

In a letter to Jayalalithaa, a copy of which was released to the press, Chandrasekaran said Vaiko and Nedumaran had realised the reality that without supporting the cause of Sri Lankan Tamils there could not unity of Tamils living all over the world.

"Both Vaiko and Nedumaran were expressing their views on the subject without any fear," he said, adding that Jayalalithaa should order their release to disprove the argument put forth that their arrest were "politically motivated one and without understanding the reality".

He said Tamil had been identified as one of the language, which faced the danger of extinction in the decades to come.

Chandrasekaran created a flutter while addressing the World Tamil Federation Conference on July 20, when he said Tamil Nadu needed thousands of Vaikos and Nedumaran who were bold enough to express support to the cause of Sri Lankan Tamils.

PTI