We won’t rest till Tamils secure their rights, says Chidambaram

December 01, 2013 12:11 am | Updated 12:11 am IST - CHENNAI:

Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram addressing a meeting organised to explain India's stand on Sri Lankan Tamils issue, in Chennai on Saturday. Photo: R. Ragu

Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram addressing a meeting organised to explain India's stand on Sri Lankan Tamils issue, in Chennai on Saturday. Photo: R. Ragu

India will not rest until the 13 amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution to secure Tamils their rights is implemented, and those guilty of war crimes are prosecuted, Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said on Saturday. “I vow in the name of [the former Prime Minister] Rajiv Gandhi that we will ensure this.”

Addressing a meeting here to explain the Sri Lankan Tamil Rights vis-à-vis India’s stand, he said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s decision to stay away from the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting, held in Colombo, was intended to give Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa a shock. Though the Prime Minister had not attended the meeting, the invitation from Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran was still open.

“If there is no change in Sri Lanka’s attitude, India will continue to press on the international forum for a detailed inquiry into the human rights violations and killing of Tamils and punishment to those who are behind the killing,” he said.

“Sri Lanka has a parliament and government. The problems of the minorities can be understood only by the minorities as their approach, history and attitude are different. Even in India, there is a demand for a separate nation in Kashmir and Nagaland. Are we conceding their demand?” he asked.

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