India today disapproved of a top Sri Lankan Defence Secretary ‘s reported remark about it regarding terrorism in that country, saying the armed conflict there was a result of Colombo denying rights to Tamils there.

Responding to Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s reported remark that India could never absolve itself of the responsibility for creating terrorism in his country, Indian Minister V Narayanasamy said the statement was not acceptable.

“As far as India is concerned (late Prime Ministers) Indira and Rajiv Gandhi supported Tamils. We even lost Rajiv Gandhi (in an assassination by LTTE). He sent Indian Peace Keeping Force to help Tamils. Rajapaksa’s statement is unacceptable. Sri Lanka is responsible for terrorism as Tamils took to terrorism because their rights were denied,” he told reporters at the Chennai airport.

New Delhi did not support any kind of terrorist activities, he said.

India has a duty to protect Tamils wherever they are and it had pressed for independent and credible investigation into alleged war crimes by Sri Lankan army at the UNHRC, he said.

“Unfortunately, state political parties are concealing that. The truth will come out ultimately,” the Minister of State in the PMO added.

He also denied the Centre was not acting on attacks on fishermen from Tamil Nadu allegedly by Sri Lankan Navy.

Indian consular officials were immediately asked to work for the release of fishermen arrested by that Navy, he said, adding that talks between fishermen of the two countries could ensure a lasting solution to the matter.

The minister also called for more patrolling of Indian Coast Guard and Naval ships in the area to prevent attacks on local fishermen, PTI reported.