TN house resolution calls for boycott of Colombo CHOGM
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The HinduChief Minister Jayalalithaa leaving the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Thursday after 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. Photo: V. Ganesan
B. KOLAPPAN-CHENNAI, October 24, 2013
Tamil Nadu Assembly on Thursday 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.
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.
Ms. 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.
Ms. 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.
Tamil Nadu Assembly unanimously demands full CHOGM boycott by New Delhi
B. KOLAPPAN-CHENNAI, October 24, 2013Tamil Nadu Assembly on Thursday 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.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.Ms. 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.Ms. 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.
[TamilNet, Thursday, 24 October 2013, 14:02 GMT]Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Ms Jayalalithaa on Thursday moved a resolution in the Tamil Nadu State Assembly demanding the Indian Central Government to completely boycott its participation in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka this November. The resolution was particular in demanding that there should not even be a token participation from the Indian side. Instead, India should take steps to temporarily suspend Sri Lanka from the Commonwealth till the Sri Lankan State acts upon ensuring the freedom and equality of Tamils on a par with the Sinhalese. All the political parties present in the Assembly, including the Congress, passed the resolution unanimously.
