Continuing his opposition to India’s Sri Lanka policy, DMK president M. Karunanidhi on Wednesday said he could not understand why the country still considered Sri Lanka a friendly nation even though it had “humiliated” all Indian leaders, from Jawaharlal Nehru to Rajiv Gandhi.
“It pains us and we are unable to understand why India is keen on protecting Sri Lanka’s interest though the country always ignored India’s advice,” he said. He referred to Sri Lankan Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha’s announcement that his country would not negotiate with the US on the text of the US resolution before the UN in Geneva.
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid had urged Sri Lanka to hold talks with the US about the draft resolution.
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“But Sri Lanka rejected his suggestion. I don’t know what the basis is for India’s faith that Sri Lanka will listen to it. Whether it was Bandaranaike-Chelvanayam agreement or the Senanayake-Chelvanaygam agreement or the Rajiv Gandhi-Jayawardene accord, Sri Lanka government never bothered to implement any of them,” he said.
Mr. Karunanidhi said such a past record had created expectations about India’s stand on the draft resolution against Sri Lanka. “It is a still a question mark as to when India will spell out its stand,” he said.