By S. GANESAN ( THE HINDU)
The adoption of the US-sponsored resolution on the alleged human rights violations in Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council reflects the success of the diplomatic approach adopted by India, said Union Home Minister P.Chidambaram here on Saturday.
“It was a complex issue. We needed a resolution acceptable to all. One wrong step would have resulted in India ending up in a minority,” Mr.Chidambaram said.
P.Chidambaram, Union Home Minister, B.S.Gnanadesikan, TNCC president, G.K.Vasan, Union Minister for Shipping, and E.V.K.S.Elangovan, former TNCC president, at a public meeting in the city on Saturday. Photo: M.Srinath
He was addressing a Mupperum Vizha public meeting organised by the TNCC here to welcome the opening of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project, the passing of the US-sponsored resolution at the UNHRC, and to explain the Union Budget. Tracing the events that led to India deciding to support the resolution on Sri Lanka at the UNHRC, Mr.Chidambaram said since it was an issue involving a sovereign nation, India had to move carefully step by step.
The Prime Minister’s statement that the country was inclined to support the resolution was intended to send a signal not only to the people here but also to Sri Lanka and other members of the council. “Foreign policy is all about diplomatic strategy. Ultimately, we could have a resolution that we wanted,” he said adding that efforts would continue to enlist the support of some of the neighbouring countries to India’s stand on the issue.
On the Kudankulam issue, Mr.Chidambaram said the decision to commission the plant was final and nobody could change it. As a democratic country, we have heard the voices of dissent, but agitations and debates cannot go on endlessly. Based on the reports of the expert committees, the Centre and the State government have decided to commission the plant. Though 2011-12 was a difficult year, the Centre has come out with a budget which seeks to achieve a growth rate of 7.6 per cent during the current financial year.
Year by year, the Centre was increasing the allocation for the States and all states are treated equally. Union Minister for Shipping G.K.Vasan said the Congress was second to none in fighting for the rights of Tamils.
On the Sri Lankan issue, the State Congress stood for justice. The TNCC president and MPs met the Prime Minister to convey the sentiments of the people and the adoption of the UNHRC resolution was a victory to the party. The Union Budget, he said, was an ‘aam aadmi’ (common man) budget which reflected the aspirations of all sections. Allocations have been substantially increased for agriculture, education, health, and infrastructure sector. The Congress was responsible for India’s progress from being an underdeveloped country to a developing nation and now an emerging power competing with superpowers. TNCC president B.S.Gnanadesikan said the TNCC was the first organisation in the country to demand that India support the resolution on human rights violations in Sri Lankan at the UNHRC. Referring to a demand for imposing economic sanctions on Sri Lanka, Mr.Gnanadesikan said such a move would only affect the Tamils in the island nation.
Former TNCC presidents E.V.K.S.Elangovan, K.V.Thangkabalu, M.Krishnasamy, MP, and Kumari Ananthan, and former minister Su.Thirunavukkarasar who spoke sought to project the meeting as a show of strength and unity, and called for a united approach to achieve the party’s goals in the State.
gamini / April 8, 2012
Looks like the Indian onslaught has begun. Thanks to the fake Sinhalese Lions here. Max over to you!
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Max Silva / April 8, 2012
What onslaught?But still you can hope against hope if it makes you happy.If there’s an onslaught on the horizon,why did the Indian PM write to SL president explaining why India had to do it dirty, like a crest fallen lover?Good that the SL president didn’t return a reply.You don’t believe that the Americans are going to the deliver the goods for you,eh!So you imagine that the Indians are prepared to carry the American baby?Wishful thinking.
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gamini / April 8, 2012
At the behest of the Americans and the Indian Central Govt. the Tamil Nadu Politicians kept quiet, at the height of the so called war, which was only a Drama, when a game plan was drawn by the Americans to end the LTTE war by securing devolution from the devil himself MR. The staged War Drama was to consolidate MR as a War Victor to establish his fiat over the whole Nation. Then there will be none to oppose what the King wants to do as a benovelant gesture. MR also did not expect RW to survive the leadership challenge to remain. Now the War is over and the promised goods by the US and the Centre has not been delivered to these people. They have been taken for a ride. Not only that the MR regime has decimated VP and the LTTE that remained at Puthukuddiirrippu numbering forty thousand after allowing the civillians to escape in rubber dingies and boats although it was much publicised that the LTTE was killing anyone attemptting to leave. What a Drama, typical American style? I wonder what will happen to the Euphoria of the Sinhalese who ate Kiribath after the War Victory?
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