Tension is still prevailing in Tirupati in the wake of Sri Lanka president Mahenda Rajapakse's arrival.A large number of Tamils, who were at Alipiri gate, to protest the arrival of Rajapakse were taken into the custody by the police. MDMK leader Vaiko has also said that his party activists would obstruct Rajapakse from reaching Tirumala.

Whether this issue can be seen from a political angle or not, obstructing a person from reaching God's abode is something not welcoming. Had he been on a visit to some other place on some other occasion, none would have actually raised eye brows, but Rajapakse was heading to seek blessings of Lord Balaji at Tirumala. Anyway, Congress sarkar in the state is obviously looking at the issue as law and order problem and that's the reason over 200 Tamils were taken into the custody. Whether they would be produced in the court and sent back to Tamil Nadu is a big question.

(AW Phani)