Criticising Modi for his foreign visits will encourage anti-national elements

(THE TIMES OF INDIA) BJP national executive member L Ganesan on Thursday appealed to all parties to refrain from attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his foreign tours saying "this will indirectly encourage the anti-national elements."

Addressing a press meet here, Ganesan said the PM's overseas visits were aimed at getting all countries to unitedly fight terrorism apart from attracting foreign direct investment.

The press meet was held ahead of the BJP's mega rally in Coimbatore on February 2. Modi will address the rally.

Replying to a question, Ganesan said the Modi government had worked with the new Sri Lankan regime to create favourable conditions for the return of Lankan refugees to reclaim their original lands that had been taken over by the military there.

He said a delegation of the refugees from the state had called on him and party chief Tamilisai Soundararajan earlier in the day to convey their desire to return home.

"They have said they want to resettle on their lands and have asked for central government's assistance," he said.