I am writing this letter in response to your editorial of the 13th April and related news item on the next page. The reference is to the role of LTTE in Indian politics.

Prabhakaran has induced a South Indian leader to send a telegram to the centre pleading for his life according to a news item in the Hindu Newspaper last week. I happened to be in India at this time. He is also trying to induce another South Indian leader to lead that country into a blood bath.

The man who cared less than the proverbial tuppence for the lives of those under him, now pleads for his own life through telegrams. Mr. Prabhakaran will NOT swallow his cyanide capsule. It was meant for display on himself and for the others to swallow. His whole exercise now is to manoeuvre the situation so that he could live that extra minute longer.

I have visited South India several times, before, during and after the conflict. I have come across a group of people whose kindness, courtesy and hospitality is unmatched.

They are not interested in LTTE politics. It is up to the South Indian politicians to realize this. A news item datelined 12th April New Delhi says that "political analysts feel that the issue is unlikely to make an impact on the electorate".

Here is something to reinforce that view. The Bank of Ceylon building in Madras had dozens of Indian Police in front of it. I knew what it meant, but to find out the sentiments of the average Indian, I asked one of them why that was. He replied with a cynical smile ‘that is to prevent trouble. We are not interested. I have so many Sri Lankan friends’.

He even gave me his telephone number after the brief conversation that followed and asked me to contact him when I next visit India. This, I will do.