The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has extended the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for another five years as the group “continues to foster a separatist tendency amongst the masses” and as its affiliates “enhance the support base for the LTTE in India, and particularly in Tamil Nadu,” which will impact the territorial integrity of the country.
The MHA declared the LTTE an unlawful association under the anti-terror law, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The Ministry said “LTTE sympathisers living abroad continue to spread anti-India propaganda among Tamils, holding the Government of India responsible for the defeat of the LTTE, which, if not checked, is likely to develop a sense of hate among Tamil populace towards the Central government and the Indian Constitution.”
The LTTE was last banned on May 14, 2019. A UAPA tribunal upheld the ban on November 21, 2019.
The MHA said that even after its military defeat in May 2009 in Sri Lanka, the LTTE has not abandoned the concept of ‘Eelam’ and has been clandestinely working towards the ‘Eelam’ cause by undertaking fund-raising and propaganda activities and the remnant LTTE leaders or cadres had also initiated efforts to regroup the scattered activists and resurrect the outfit locally and internationally.
“Despite the ban in force, the activities of pro-LTTE organisations and individuals have come to notice and, attempts have been made by these forces to extend their support to the LTTE; the LTTE leaders, operatives and supporters have been inimically opposed to India’s policy on their organisation and action of the state machinery in curbing their activities,” the MHA notification said.
The Ministry added that cases under the UAPA have been registered against the LTTE, pro-LTTE groups or elements since it was banned in 2019 “which indicate that the LTTE and its remnant cadres, followers and supporters are involved in various criminal activities, including smuggling of illegal drugs, arms for furtherance of the objective of the LTTE.”
It said the Central government is of the opinion that “LTTE continues to pose a threat to and is detrimental to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India as also to the public order” and due to its strong “anti-India posture” it is necessary to declare the group as an unlawful association with immediate effect.
