Tamil National Alliance MP M K Shivajilingam had been denied access to Chennai on the instructions of the Indian central government, the Times of India reported. Indian immigration officials also insisted the MP was not “deported” but was merely denied entry according to the rules.

It was earlier reported that the TNA MP, a vocal LTTE supporter, had come from London to Chennai via Dubai on an Emirates flight but immigration officials stopped him as soon as he landed. He was detained at the airport.

Officials told the MP that he was not permitted to enter the country and that he would have to return to Dubai. Therefore, his papers were not processed. He was sent back in a Chennai-Dubai Emirates flight on the same day.

The Times of India said the not to allow entry' notice had been issued against the MP only recently. Shivajilingam has been visiting Chennai quite regularly.

Last year, while he was camping in India to mobilise support against the Rajapaksa regime, there were moves to send him back to Sri Lanka. Many also voiced fears for his safety if he returned to Colombo at the height of the war.

The MP belongs to the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO), a constituent of the multi-party Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which contested the 2004 parliamentary election in Sri Lanka on the symbol of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi'.

The decision to deny entry to the MP was a fairly recent one, sources said, as it was only a few weeks ago that he addressed a press conference in the city recently.

A few years ago, another pro-LTTE MP, MK Eelaventhan, was deported to Sri Lanka in a sudden move.