Tuesday, Apr 28: MADURAI: Party leaders in Tamil Nadu were politicising the Sri Lankan issue with an eye on votebank, All India Nadalum Makkal Katchi founder, M. Karthik, has said.

Talking to reporters here on Monday, he said the imbroglio was related to human rights violation in the island nation.

He criticised the political parties for not able to check even the killing of fishermen from the State by the Sri Lankan Navy.

"Why cannot they (the Centre) deploy the Coast Guard and the Indian Navy to protect the fishermen. Are they not the citizens of the country," he said.

Mr. Karthik, who is contesting on the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Lotus symbol, in Virudhunagar Lok Sabha constituency, said that he would begin his campaign on Tuesday. The party manifesto would be released soon. He promised to stay in Virudhunagar, if elected, and fulfil all their requirements, which were ignored by the parties that had been in power over decades.

The BJP leaders, Venkaiah Naidu, S. Tirunavukkarasar, L. Ganesan, and All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi founder and actor, Sarath Kumar, would campaign for him, Mr. Karthik, said.