I believe it was around 2010, when we were studying at the University of Jaffna. A delegation from India—led by T.R. Baalu, including Kanimozhi and Thirumavalavan—came to Jaffna after receiving blessings and hospitality from Mahinda. A meeting had been arranged at the Jaffna Library with university students. Douglas participated as Mahinda’s representative, along with several members of civil society and lecturers.
Although our intention was to boycott the meeting, we still decided to attend so we could ask a few piercing questions.
We asked:
“For Rajiv Gandhi’s sake, how many more lives are you going to sacrifice?”
We reminded them how, when an entire people were being massacred, Tamil Nadu—calling us umbilical cord relatives—merely watched. We questioned how the Congress party and the DMK aided Sri Lanka in its efforts to destroy us. We raised many such concerns.
The visitors were visibly shaken by the students’ questions. Thirumavalavan did not open his mouth at all. Kanimozhi mumbled something vague. T.R. Baalu, irritated, responded harshly. Douglas spoke in his usual style, calmly but evasively. The meeting ended without substance—tasteless and empty. But for us, who questioned them without hesitation, it felt like we had slapped truth onto their faces.
These were the same DMK and Congress figures who aided the destruction of our people, who supported Mahinda during the war, and who came to Jaffna only months after the genocide to praise him. Today, after 16 years, they stand in Mullivaikkal shedding blue-coloured crocodile tears. The souls of the dead will never forgive them. History will not forgive those who brought them here and laid out the red carpet for them.
The month of Karthigai is heavy—
it exposes both betrayers and truth-tellers.
Thank you,
S. Thavabalan
