Close X
Monday, November 25, 2024
ADVT 
India

Colombo apologises to Modi, Jayalalithaa over article

Darpan News Desk IANS, 01 Aug, 2014 09:51 AM
    Sri Lanka Friday tendered an "unqualified apology" to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa after an objectionable article was posted on its defence ministry web site -- and then deleted in a hurry.
     
    "An article titled 'How meaningful are Jayalalitha's love letters to Narendra Modi?' appeared on our web site along with a graphical portrayal of (Modi and Jayalalithaa)," said a statement hosted on the very same defence ministry web site.
     
    It said the article "which had been published without appropriate authorization and not reflecting any official position" of the Sri Lankan government or the defence ministry has since been removed.
     
    "We extend an unqualified apology to the prime minister of India and chief minister of Tamil Nadu," it added.
     
    The offending article written by Shenali. D. Waduge said: "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, they say, and that aptly puts to context the feelings of Jayalalithaa towards Sri Lanka."
     
    The Indian external affairs ministry said it "acted with alacrity" and activated diplomatic channels as soon as the article and the derogatory photograph appeared on the web site.
     
    Earlier, a furious Jayalalithaa urged the Indian government to ask Sri Lanka to apologize.
     
    In a letter to Modi, she said Sri Lanka's high commissioner should be summoned and conveyed India's displeasure over the article.
     
    India should "seek an unconditional apology from the government of Sri Lanka", she said.
     
    "The visual ... is highly objectionable as it depicts both the prime minister of India and the chief minister of Tamil Nadu in a very trivialised, derogatory and disrespectful manner," she said.
     
    She said the image "is clearly aimed at denigrating the elected leaders of India ... and particularly a 66-year-old woman political leader". 
     
    "These are affronts to India which cannot be ignored or lightly brushed aside."
     
    Jayalalithaa said the visual was "deliberately and mischievously" put up on the official web site.
     
    Tamil Nadu political parties were outraged.
     
    PMK founder S. Ramadoss said: "The article's title and the accompanying picture of Jayalalithaa thinking of Modi while writing the letter makes everybody with a conscience to boil."
     
    Ramadoss said the visit of BJP leader Subramaniam Swamy to Sri Lanka and his views "against Tamils and Tamil Nadu" had emboldened Colombo.
     
    MDMK leader Vaiko said the article and illustration betrayed the pervert Sri Lankan mind. He urged New Delhi to break diplomatic ties with Colombo.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Sukhbir Badal meets Rajnath over SGPC controversy

    Sukhbir Badal meets Rajnath over SGPC controversy
    With Haryana giving clear indications of going ahead to set up a separate Sikh body to manage gurdwaras in the state, Punjab's ruling Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal met union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to seek the central government's intervention in the matter.

    Sukhbir Badal meets Rajnath over SGPC controversy

    In Kashmir, Modi vows to walk Vajpayee's path

    In Kashmir, Modi vows to walk Vajpayee's path
    Making his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after assuming office, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday vowed to pursue Atal Bihari Vajapyee's dream of restoring peace in the troubled state.

    In Kashmir, Modi vows to walk Vajpayee's path

    Wear loin cloth if against Westernism, designer tells Goa minister

    Wear loin cloth if against Westernism, designer tells Goa minister
    The controversy over a Goa cabinet minister's demand to ban mini-skirts and bikinis in order to "protect Goan culture" refuses to die down, with ace fashion designer Wendell Rodricks asking him to to wear a loin cloth to work, skip chillies, tomatoes, potatoes, and stop using a table and chair at work if he believes in shunning Western influences and culture.

    Wear loin cloth if against Westernism, designer tells Goa minister

    More coal allocated for Punjab's power plants

    More coal allocated for Punjab's power plants
    The central government Friday sanctioned enhanced coal linkage for thermal plants in Punjab, a demand pending with the union coal ministry since April 2011, state government officials said.

    More coal allocated for Punjab's power plants

    Delhi's G.B. Road sex workers to finally get new address

    Delhi's G.B. Road sex workers to finally get new address
    This surely is an instance of better late than never - in this case, all of 48 years. The infamous "G.B.Road" address on the voter identity cards of Delhi's sex workers had stripped away their dignity and made them a subject of humiliation and ignominy. This will hopefully change with the Election Commission (EC) deciding to replace the address with Swami Shraddhanand Marg - the road's official name since 1966.

    Delhi's G.B. Road sex workers to finally get new address

    Meeting with Facebook COO very fruitful: PM Modi

    Meeting with Facebook COO very fruitful: PM Modi
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday said his meeting with Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg was "very fruitful" as they discussed ways to use this platform for governance and better interaction between the people and governments.

    Meeting with Facebook COO very fruitful: PM Modi