Everyone has a right to protest in a democratic country: President tells in India

In a democratic country such as India everybody has a right to protest President Mahinda Rajapaksa said, while visiting the Lord Venkateswara shrine in Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh, India. President Rajapaksa offered prayers at the Lord Venkateswara shrine.

Rajapaksa, who was on a two-day visit to the holy shrine, participated in the Suprabhata seva – a pre-dawn ritual performed in the early hours.

Even though he is entitled to the ‘Mahadwaram’ entry, he preferred reaching the temple complex through the Vaikuntam queue complex like any other commoner, Indian media reported. “Why don’t you come to Sri Lanka for a first hand assessment and see for yourself what the truth is,” he said speaking to media. Earlier, as is the practice, the temple priests honoured him with the silk vastram of the presiding deity while the TTDs Joint Executive Officer K.S. Srinivasa Raju presented him with the laddu prasadam and memento of the presiding deity.

Andra Pradesh police authorities had made unprecedented security arrangements for the President’s visit.