External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, who is leaving for Colombo on Wednesday, said on Tuesday that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s decision not to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) should not be interpreted as India boycotting the multi-national meeting.
Stating that the Prime Minister had taken a “considered” view on not going to Colombo in view of the strong sentiments expressed by his Cabinet colleagues and legislators from Tamil Nadu besides elections to five States, Mr. Khurshid told journalists after the conclusion of the Asia-Europe (ASEM) Meeting, “the position we’ve taken is this is not a boycott if I’m going.”
“The Prime Minister has taken a considered call. We are, after all, facing five elections. There were also very strong sentiments expressed by our colleagues in Parliament from Tamil Nadu. As indeed, there was a sentiment expressed by that State’s Assembly. I think everything must have been factored in and after that a decision was taken,” he said.
