India cannot afford to restrict economic ties with Sri Lanka in order to pressure the Sri Lankan government to alleviate the sufferings of Sri Lankan Tamils as Tamil Nadu parties allege, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said.

The Prime Minister has told the MDMK leader Vaiko that such a move would only encourage China to displace India as a strategic and trading partner of Sri Lanka, Hindustan Times reported.

MDMK leader Vaiko on Tuesday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi to discuss several issues including the alleged plight of Sri Lankan Tamils.

The Hindustan Times report says that since the election of pro-Tamil Jeyaram Jeyalalithaa to Tamil Nadu Assembly as Chief Minister, Tamil Nadu politicians are competing against each other to address the plight of Lankan Tamils reportedly living in camps and alleged harassment of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy.