Friday, 1 November 2013 03:39
-
- {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Following a meeting of the Congress Party on Wednesday night, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to attend the Commonwealth Summit in Colombo this month, in order to remain engaged in its neighbourhood, according to press reports from New Delhi.
The Times of India reported that the decision was reached after the core committee of the Congress Party met and evaluated the political fallout of Dr. Singh’s attendance at CHOGM before it was felt the benefits outweighed the downsides.
The decision is not an easy one for the Government as the Tamil Nadu assembly has passed a resolution unanimously calling on India to boycott the CHOGM in view of issues related to Tamils in Sri Lanka, the newspaper said. The report said that in taking a bold decision to go to Colombo despite political sentiments in Tamil Nadu, the PM has prioritised the need to ensure India does not lose vital clout with the Sri Lankan Government and allow other powers like China to gain stronger leverage.
The Government has argued that even to influence Sri Lankan behaviour and ensure a better deal for Tamils, India needs to retain its communication and clout with the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government.
The Indian Premier’s decision to attend the CHOGM, it is hoped, will make Sri Lanka more amenable to make good its promises to New Delhi, the report said.
