In the wake of sharp attack from Tamil Nadu parties, including United Progressive Alliance constituent Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), which have accused it of being soft on alleged human rights violations against Tamils in Sri Lanka, the Union government on Monday called off the annual defence dialogue with Colombo, scheduled to begin from March 23.
Official sources gave no reason for putting off the three-day talks, but added that scheduling of dates would have to be done afresh.
“The annual defence dialogue is not taking place for the time being, we will have to work out new dates for it and then schedule it,” they said.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Monday, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said requests for defence assistance are received from time to time from foreign countries, including Sri Lanka.
“Such requests are considered keeping in view all aspects of national interests. Further details cannot be divulged in view of the security implications involved,” he said.
If we close the doors of Defence ties with Srilanka, well, the looser
will not be Srilanka but only India. China or Pakistan will step in to
fill our shoes. Pakistan should have already smelt it and to ensure
that any opportunity for a base if loomed in that island does not
slip through it's fingers, it has sent a retired Army General as it's
envoy to Colombo. Srilanka offers the missing link for an encirclement
of India. If the Central government with an eye on the 2014 elections,
succumbed to the pressure from the Tamil chauvinistic parties in Tamil
Nad on this issue, our national security will be at peril.
I find it increasingly absurd that people of a different nation are demanding the creation of a separate state within another sovereign nation. There is not even a representative of a Sri Lankan political party of any Sri Lankan s in these fasts unto death or protests. What is the vested interest by TN in this?
The Indian population/politicians in the North does not seem to grasp the gravity of
Sinhala- Tamil (Sri Lanka) divide still. Tamil Nadu have understood and feel for their
brethren in the island. New Delhi after Indira-Rajiv era only have words no actions to
follow their words.
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