Lt. Gen (Retd) Prakash Menon, Military Advisor to the National Security Council Secretariat, on Monday said that India's vote against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) meet in Geneva was a “calculated” vote cast in the national interest.
Saying that Sri Lanka had not done enough as it promised, the official said though the Island Nation had won the war, it might lose peace in the long run. Mr. Menon was speaking at a seminar on ‘Challenges to India's National Security in 21 Century' jointly organised by the Indian Army and the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies, University of Madras, here.
“You can say that the Central Government was influenced by coalition politics. But, in the end it is all about national interest. It was a calculated vote…they (Sri Lanka) have not done enough or they are not doing what they promised to. Definitely, our voice is in that direction,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Gopalji Malviya, Head, Department of Defence and Strategic Studies, University of Madras, said that there was an urgent need to define ‘federal crime' and formed a national agency to counter the same.
Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission Chairman and former Director General of Police R. Nataraj laid stress on evolving a ‘National Internal Security Strategy' to deal with internal security issues.
The decision taken by India is a fitting slap given to an ungrateful neighbour . SL all these days sought Indian help (Remember Sri. Rajiv Gandhi sending IPKF during the 80s war). now they have shamelessly parleyed with China.China in the future would ditch this ungrateful state after using it,there would be no India to help you then.
Julia, firstly,you are dead wrong. India is responsible to have created LTTE terrorists. Indira Ghandi let Tamil Nadu train LTTE rebels and successive governments continued that in various forms. Now India is trying to play saint.
Secondly, you are wrong again. Sri Lanka is one nation and the homeland for all Sri Lankans alike. This is where the naive Tamils go wrong. Sri Lanka will remain so whether you Indians like it or not. India voting against Sri Lanka in recent UNHCR resolution will certainly have bad repercussions for many years to come. Looking at what goes on, Sri Lanka is way better off with the Chinese and other countries like Pakistan etc. that oppose India. Sri Lankans now have no regards for India.
"You can say that the Central Government was influenced by coalition politics. But, in the end it is all about national interest." Says the General.
What would that national interest be? To internationalize the problem? To encourage outside forces (US, Russia, and China) to get directly involved? To abandon a friendly country and lose credibility in the eyes of the majority of Sri Lankans? It does not make sense at all. India blundered, big time. They know it. Thus the subsequent 'love letter' to the SL president from Indian PM! But unfortunately, the damage is already done. The strategy now should be to make fast economic development in all parts of SL a top priority and make the ethnic divisions there irrelevant. Once SL and India are part of a big single market, these internal divisions will mean nothing.
Well said Sir, Yes Sri Lanka need to play by rules !!! When they wanted help we gave them and now they dont want to listen to anybody !!! Then China card and they will be the next Myanmar in Asia !!! India helped to defat the LTTE which is good but now Tamils need a political solution to live in thier homeland in Sri Lanka
It is too late now for Indian establishment to come up with all kinds of excuses such as “calculated vote” etc. while it has bent over backwards to please the Americans. Also, the government of India had to say yes to Jayalalitha and her cronies to be able to remain in power. So, at this juncture stacking up lame excuses is not called for. Sri Lankans have already made up their minds and whatever India does to “damage control” is a futile effort. Bye, Bye India. Sri Lanka can survive without you, and Sri Lanka has done so for more than 2,600 years and more.
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