Former president Mahinda Rajapaksa is attempting to gain political mileage by portraying the public outcry in the north against the rape and murder of Jaffna schoolgirl Vidya as a rising of the LTTE again, he told a district officers conference of the Democratic People’s Front in Kandy today (31).

Less than three weeks later, a big demonstration took place in Kahawatte against the court’s acquittal of the accused in the Kahawatte incident, and I wish to ask the ex-president as to whether it was the LTTE who had protested there too, he asked.

The people rejected Rajapaksa at the last presidential election, he pointed out.

After the presidential election, dissolution of parliament was delayed and relief was given to the people, he said.

Mr. Wickremesinghe accused the SLFP-led UPFA of attempting to remove him from the premiership.

The only way of removing me is by way of seeking a mandate from the people at an election, he said.

It was undemocratic that certain factions of the SLFP and the UPFA are trying to make Rajapaksa the prime minister, as he was rejected by the people, he said.

Why can’t they respect the public decision, he asked, BBC Sandeshaya reports.