Friday, 25 October 2013 04:05
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The Tamil Nadu Assembly yesterday unanimously adopted a resolution asking the Indian government to “completely boycott” the Commonwealth Head of Governments Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in November in Sri Lanka, the Hindu newspaper reported.
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, who moved the resolution, said even “token participation of Indian representatives” should not be allowed.
“India should immediately communicate its decision to the Sri Lankan Government and take steps to suspend the country from the Commonwealth till it secures rights for the Tamils on par with the Sinhalese and their independence,” she said amid thumping of desk by the treasury benches.
Jayalalithaa recalled how she in the past took exception to India providing training to Sri Lankan Army personnel in India, the resolution passed in the Assembly seeking economic embargo against Sri Lanka, and her letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take efforts to shift the venue of CHOGM from Sri Lanka to some other country.
She said her consistent efforts led to India putting an end to providing training to the Sri Lankan Army. The Assembly also wanted India to abstain from using the term “friendly nation” while making any reference to Sri Lanka.
Jayalalithaa said India should take a cue from the stand taken by the Canadian Prime Minister that he would not participate in the CHOGM meet on the ground that Sri Lanka had violated the basic principles of the Commonwealth and boycott the meet.
