TNCC president B.S. Gnanadesikan rejected the criticism against the Congress on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue, and said that imposing economic sanctions on Sri Lanka would upset the ongoing rehabilitation process.
He said those who were seeking a referendum were fully aware that India alone could not make it happen. “When a referendum is sought on the internal matters of a country, it should be approved by members of the UN Security Council,” he explained.
Mr. Gnanadesikan also appealed to political leaders and students not to aggravate the situation for the Tamils in Sri Lanka by their activities here.
Chidambaram’s hope
Addressing a public meeting in Karaikudi on Saturday night, Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said: “My feeling, your feeling, our feeling and the feeling of the people of Tamil Nadu is that India should support and vote in favour of the resolution. Wait till March 22 [when the resolution is moved in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)] for the good news,” he said indicating that India would vote in favour of the resolution.
Recalling India’s support to a resolution moved by the US against Sri Lanka in the UNHRC for human rights violations, the Union Minister said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid could not announce the stand just like that and Mr Khurshid had made it clear in Parliament that India would support the resolution, provided it called for an ‘independent, credible and international enquiry’ into the human rights violations.
The Congress was the only other party to take part in the recent Tamil Eelam Supporters’ Organisation (TESO) meeting, he said. “The Congress will continue to raise its voice and fight for the Tamils in Sri Lanka and get them equal rights,” he added.
Keywords: Sri Lankan Tamils issue, UNHRC resolution, Prime MInister, B.S. Gnanadesikan, Manmohan Singh, TNCC president
Whole issue is because of UPA and its support to Rakshasapaksa for his corrupt war on Tamils. Why should they bother now? they will shed crocodile tears only now.
Equal rights? .. all Sri lankans had it since the independence from British.
Do you know Tamils are the majority population in the capital city Colombo?... More
than half of the Tamil population in SL live among other ethnicities in the south?
The bottom end of the news article reads: 'getting equal rights for Tamils in Sri Lanka'. Could
one kind person please state one right that is being specifically denied to the Tamils of SL
that is NOT denied to any other ethnic group in Sri Lanka?
Its unfortunate that India has a leader in the calibre of Manmohan who is very passive and always submissive to all small neighbours. India has lost its stature in the global forum and take India as anothoer third world country. India was respected immensely when Indira Gandhi was in power,yet Rajiv was able to redeem that respect somewhat. It's so tragic both were assasinated by extremists of different form. I feel India is going in a different direction where small nations are bullying India and China is gaining momentum in all aspects. What India needs is a leadership change . Otherwise we are going to see another Balkanization like Yugoslavia. If this happens Pakistan is going to be a Regional power and Islam is going to rule the roost.Therefore the Congress should understand this and understand the sentiments of the Tamilians like a family member and respect their feeling snd act accordingly and act upon by being tough with S.L rather than please Mahida Rajapakse
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