Modi coming despite deferral requests of Congress Leader

Monday, 9 March 2015 00:21 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reacting to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s controversial statement relating to Indian fishermen, Indian Congress Leader V. Narayanasamy yesterday urged Indian Premier Narendra Modi to terminate his visit to Sri Lanka. According to reports from the Press Trust of India (PTI) Narayanasamy had said: “It is indeed mind-boggling that the Lankan Prime Minister had aired a very serious comment and stoked a controversy. His comment is absolutely unacceptable and India should show its strong protest. The Prime Minister should call off his plan to visit Sri Lanka.” Commenting further, Narayanasamy had added that Wickremesinghe’s comments had hurt the Indian fishermen and betrayed a situation of a small nation posing a threat to India which was a big country and had asked External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to cut short her current visit to Sri Lanka to mark India’s protest. However, despite these requests the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday confirmed his forthcoming visit to Sri Lanka according to media sources. In a statement released on his official visit, Modi said, «I embark on my first visit to Sri Lanka with great joy and confidence that this visit will make India’s relations with Sri Lanka even stronger, in the larger interest of our people. My visit comes after President Sirisena’s visit to India during which substantial ground was covered on taking our ties forward. I am eagerly looking forward to meeting President Sirisena once again. Our ties with Sri Lanka have stood the test of time. We have a shared history, heritage and values. And yes, both our nations share a love for cricket! India is committed in its support for Sri Lanka’s development and I’m sure together we are going to script a golden chapter in the history of India-Sri Lanka relations.”

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