Madurai: MDMK chief Vaiko today accused the DMK government in Tamil Nadu of committing "a fraud" by seeking to send relief materials for the Sri Lankan Tamils, saying it had been supporting the UPA government which extended "help to the island government to fight the Tamils."

"In the last four years, the Manmohan Singh government had provided equipment, radars and even arms to the Sri Lankan government to fight against Tamils and the ruling party in Tamil Nadu was supporting the Centre all these years," he told reporters here.

Now after protests in the state over the Sri Lankan Tamils issue "they (DMK) have suddenly woken up and are arranging for the relief," he charged.

Vaiko, on his first visit to the city after being released from prison after his arrest on sedition charges for his recent speech at a meeting on the issue, said the relief was being sent to the Tamils after "their necks had been strangulated".

Alleging that both the state and Central governments were "fully responsible for the sufferings of Sri Lankan Tamils," he said his party would hold protest, fasts and meetings in all districts of the state from December 12 to 18.

Earlier, he met Tamil film directors Seeman and Ameer, who were arrested on charges of sedition for "inflammatory" speeches during a rally organised in Rameswaram on October 19.

They were released on bail by a Ramanathapuram court on October 29 on the condition that they should appear before a court here every day.

Vaiko, who wanted the bail conditions to be lifted, claimed the entire state "complimented them for their support to the Sri Lankan Tamils."
Source : PTI