Several members of the Tamil film industry gathered on Monday to protest the derogatory article about Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa published on Sri Lankan defence ministry's website.
Tamil Nadu directors' union and producers' council held the protest outside the Sri Lankan consulate in Chennai. Several Tamil celebrities including superstars Vijay and Suriya, veteran actor Sivakumar, Seeman, Dhamu, Vikraman, Manobala, Keyar, Vinay, Kalaipulii Thanu, Rajesh, Sarathkumar, KS Ravikumar, Vikram Prabhu, K Bhagyaraj, Snehan, SP Jananathan and Pyramid Natarajan were among others who took part in the protest.
The protest was staged against a derogatory article, titled "How meaningful are Jayalalithaa's love letters to Narendra Modi?", posted on the Sri Lankan defence ministry's website.
The article created a furore in India and the government strongly condemned the article against the Tamil Nadu chief minister. The Sri Lankan government removed the article from its defence website and tendered an apology.
"An article titled 'How meaningful are Jayalalithaa's love letters to Narendra Modi?' had appeared on our website along with a graphical portrayal of Hon Prime Minister of India and Hon Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu," read the post on the Lankan defence ministry website.
"The article which had been published without appropriate authorization and not reflecting any official position of the Government of Sri Lanka or Ministry of Defence and Urban Development has since been removed.
"We extend an unqualified apology to the Hon Prime Minister of India and Hon Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu," read the apology.
However, the "unqualified" apology could not pacify the AIADMK leaders who forced both the upper and the lower houses of the Parliament to be adjourned twice on Monday. AIADMK members demanded a probe and action against those who were responsible for posting the derogatory article on the Sri Lankan defence ministry website, reported the Times of India.
In Chennai, Tamil film fraternity raised slogans against the Sri Lankan government. They also demanded the closure of the consulate and the Sri Lankan embassy in the city.
Speaking during the protest, actor Vijay stated that insulting the Tamil Nadu chief minister is like insulting his mother and also condemned Sri Lanka's attitude, according to Indiaglitz.
