Human Rights
India likely to vote against Sri Lanka for alleged war crimes, says PM
New Delhi:The Prime Minister said today in Parliament that India is inclined to vote against Sri Lanka at a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in
President Rajapaksa with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. (File photo)
Geneva. A resolution against the Sri Lankan government for alleged war crimes and human rights violations has been moved by the US, Norway and France. “We do not yet have the final text of the US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka. But we are inclined to vote in favour,” he told the Lok Sabha today.
Dr Manmohan Singh’s comments will likely pacify his ally, the DMK, which has threatened to pull out of the coalition at the Centre if India either abstained or supported Sri Lanka at the vote. The DMK has 18 Lok Sabha MPs and is needed for the government’s survival.
All parties from Tamil Nadu have been urging the Centre to take a strong stand against Sri Lanka and the rights of its Tamil population. Till today, the government had been non-committal in its response.
The PM’s comments were made during his Motion of Thanks to the President’s address. Last week, President Pratibha Patil presented the government’s agenda in the House, inaugurating the Budget session of Parliament. The PM used his Motion of Thanks today to also address the concerns of another major ally – Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress. Her party has been opposed to the powers granted to the proposed National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC). Ms Banerjee and several other chief ministers have told the PM that the NCTC’s right to search and arrest suspects in any state violate the federal structure of the country.
Today, the PM said that a detailed discussion would be held with all chief ministers on the NCTC on April 16. Till then, the anti-terror agency will not be commissioned. This morning, the Trinamool had made it clear that it expected this assurance.
NDTV