Antony’s assurance to Vasan

Defence Minister A.K. Antony is said to have assured Congress leader and Union Shipping Minister G.K. Vasan that his Ministry would consider requests made by Tamil Nadu leaders for not providing training to Sri Lankan defence personnel in the State. Mr. Vasan told The Hindu that Mr. Antony gave this assurance to him when he met him here on Monday asking the Centre to immediately send back the two Sri Lankan defence officers who were undergoing training in the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington near Ooty. Mr. Vasan said he had also reminded Mr. Antony of the assurance given by him to the people of the State recently in Thanjavur wherein he had said that the Centre would respect the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu. Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, in a statement on Saturday, alleged the Centre had demonstrated its “reprehensible attitude” in permitting two Sri Lankan military officers to undergo training.