May 11, 1998

By Rohit Parihar

He is an unusual customer for the fish-mongers of Ajmer. The dark, heavily built, middle-aged Tamil is conspicuous in the crowded fish market not only because there are very few south Indians in the city, but also because he is always accompanied by a posse of stern-looking CRPF men in civvies. They know he is someone important and hard to please, being a fish connoisseur. But they do not mind his visits.

His escorts, however, do. For, Varadraja Perumal, one of the few surviving leaders of Sri Lanka's Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF), has been living in exile in India for the past eight years. High on the hit list of the LTTE, he is provided Z-plus category security by the Indian Government. "Adventures" such as visits to the fish market are frowned upon by his security people, who feel that such jobs should be left to his staff. But he protests: "This is unfair. After all only I know about my taste. Tomorrow, they may not even let me buy a pen for myself."

Possibly not, if the Rajasthan Government can have its way. He is one guest the state would gladly do without. Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat has written to the Centre four times in the past few months, requesting that he be removed from the state, but has drawn no response. "Perumal's had to be a secret presence, which is no longer the case, and so we cannot guarantee his security," says an aide of the chief minister.

Perumal, on the other hand, is quite at home in Ajmer , where he has been living since 1992 with his wife and three daughters. Elected chief minister of North Eastern Province of Sri Lanka in 1987 in elections held under the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord, the 45-year-old Perumal played a crucial role in finalising the accord and bringing together political and democratic forces in the country. But when the pact fell through, the Indian government provided him a home and a high-level security that is reserved for important politicians such as L.K. Advani, Buta Singh and Rajesh Pilot. The EPRLF leader and his family are provided a company of CRPF and 20 local police personnel, including women, in addition to members of the Central intelligence agencies for security. His perks include a palatial bungalow, a dozen-odd domestic staff, including a liaison officer, cooks and servants, and two vehicles. The Centre also gives him Rs 6 lakh a year for personal expenditure and overheads, such as fuel and maintenance of vehicles. The annual Central expenditure on this friendly neighbourhood guest is Rs 1.8 crore. The overall incharge of Perumal's security, however, is the local superintendent of police, who works under a dig's directions. In case of any mishap involving the family, the state Government will be held responsible and that's what is worrying the chief minister.

In 1990, Perumal and his family were put up at a haveli in Madhya Pradesh that belonged to the Scindias. But on his request for a place that offered better educational facilities for his daughters, the Centre allowed his family to shift to Ajmer in September 1992. Though the state Government had initially agreed to let him stay in the city, it now wants him moved out. And not without reason. During the early years of political exile, Perumal was advised by the then V.P. Singh government to maintain a low profile and complete silence. He religiously adhered to this advice, keeping away from any controversy and maintaining a distance from even local politicians.

Lately, however, Perumal has come out of his shell and seems keen to get back into action -- the non-violent way. He says, "I will end my political vanvas (exile) this year. We have lost everything to violence and it is only ahimsa that will revive us." The EPRLF had been a non-militant organisation except for about five years before the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord when it took to arms. He calls that a fatal mistake. His efforts at staging a comeback in Sri Lankan politics are well-timed as the tenure of incumbent President Chandrika Kumaratunga, whom he describes as the finest elected leader in Sri Lanka, ends next year.

The change in tack is obvious. For the first time since his arrival in India, Perumal is seeking a review of the political restrictions imposed on him. He told India Today: "I want the Government of India to review its stand on me and understand that I can use my political rights even in India." He, however, takes care to add hastily that he would never do or say anything to embarrass the Indian and Sri Lankan governments.

Perumal also claims that the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government understands the EPRLF well. "I hope Vajpayeeji will perceive my role the same way as Rajiv Gandhi did," he says. "Expression of my political opinion is not a matter of relationship between the two countries, it is the right of an individual." But that is a right the state Government is unwilling to grant him because it is fraught with danger. Whatever the pitfalls, living in total isolation is perhaps too much to expect from a high-profile leader like him. Over the years, he has made many friends. His daughters, aged 13, 16 and 18 years, have their own lives in Ajmer -- while one of them attends stitching classes, the youngest one is learning Kathak. The family also socialises and attends late-night parties. The security personnel, of course, shadow them round-the-clock. Sometimes Perumal or his family members travel in someone else's car or let their friends travel with them when they go out. Security requirements do not permit this. One officer associated with his security, in a confidential communication, complained to his bosses that Perumal often insisted on using his friend's car -- a security risk. Besides, his security has to be beefed up during his frequent outstation trips.

And that's not all. Perumal has purchased land in the state in some Indian relative's name, and security agencies suspect he wants to settle down in Ajmer. Perumal admits to having bought 2.5 acres of farmland and says he keeps cows there. Since he has several Indian relatives, it wasn't difficult. He justifies the purchase, saying, "It is time I saved and made some investments for my daughters' future. I may have to settle them here eventually." His security staff also question his use of government vehicles for bringing fodder for the cattle and selling the milk.

These activities have not gone down well with the state Government, which now hopes that the BJP-led Government in Delhi will be more kindly disposed towards its request for moving the Sri Lankan from Rajasthan. Though feigning ignorance about such moves, Perumal says he does not mind shifting out of Ajmer. "I've never had any problem with Indians," he says diplomatically. "They have cared well for my family." He becomes quite nostalgic about his stay in India, but has some grouses too. For example, he was unable to meet Sonia Gandhi and pay his condolences after Rajiv Gandhi's assassination due to his forced isolation. Any reference to Rajiv makes him emotional about his brief association with the former prime minister, whom he describes as "an honest leader who was the image of a new India". He cherishes those memories. His eventful life and his associations with powerful people could make for interesting reading. Is he planning an autobiography? "I am too young for that," he says. Instead, he has started writing a book on rural development in India.

The exiled EPRLF leader would love to become a columnist or speak at seminars on Sri Lanka, but is quick to add: "I will not do that without the Indian government's consent." That should be music to Shekhawat's ears. But with Perumal's avowed intent to end his political vanvas this year, his security staff and the state Government could well have much more to worry about than occasional jaunts to the fish market.

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