Tamil Nadu assembly reiterates call for total Indian boycott of Sri Lanka CHOGM

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 November 2013, 16:06 GMT]
At a special session convened on Tuesday, the Tamil Nadu assembly unanimously passed a resolution moved by Chief Minister Ms Jayalalitha calling on India to completely boycott CHOGM in genocide-accused Sri Lanka. “By participating in the Commonwealth meeting, India will be sending a message that it stands by the dishonourable and inhumane actions of the Sri Lankan state,” the resolution read, also expressing regret over the Indian government’s decision to send a delegation to Sri Lanka disrespecting sentiments in Tamil Nadu. 

[Library Photo]

The strongly worded preface of the resolution also argued that India, which had aided the Sinhala racist state to destroy the Tamils and betrayed the latter by giving training to Sri Lankan forces, should at least seek repentance by a total boycott of the CHOGM and send a message to those who committed genocide and war crimes. 

The resolution was unanimously approved by all parties participating in the Tamil Nadu assembly. 

This resolution follows on the heels of the unanimous resolution passed in the assembly earlier on 24 October that had also called for a complete Indian boycott of the CHOGM. 

The resolution passed on Tuesday expressed came down sharply on the central government of India for choosing to ignore the earlier resolution.

Claiming that the Sri Lankan government was shielding the perpetrators of genocide and war crimes, the text of the resolution asserted that Indian participation in CHOGM would tantamount to providing protection for such war criminals. 

• Tamil Nadu Assembly Resolution (Full text)

Jayalalithaa moves resolution in TN assembly to fully boycott CHOGM

Nov 12, 2013

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday moved resolution in special assembly session demanding India boycott CHOGM completely. The assembly had passed a similar resolution earlier as well. The assembly stressed that they do not want even External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid to attend the meeting.

Earlier in the day, Salman Khurshid said that India's growing presence in Sri Lanka should not be compromised and that India would not boycott the upcoming CHOGM.

Khurshid said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's decision not to attend the meet in no way was a protests against the island nation's alleged war crimes against Tamils.

  

Khurshid said India's growing presence in Sri Lanka should not be compromised and that India would not boycott the upcoming CHOGM.

"I am going to Sri Lanka, India is not boycotting the CHOGM," said Khurshid clarifying the he will participate in the meet.

Khurshid also added that the Centre is committed towards the rehabilitation of Tamils in Sri Lanka. "Our efforts in Sri Lanka have been a success. We have a huge commitment to the development of the north east province of Sri Lanka," he added.

The Prime Minister, under immense pressure from Tamil parties not to visit Colombo to attend the CHOGM, recently sent a letter to the Sri Lankan President expressing his unavailability for the meet. Tamil Nadu political parties and Congress leaders from the state have been pressuring the Prime Minister not to visit Colombo.

They have been campaigning that Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has violated all human rights during the war with LTTE and the Lankan government should be charged with war crimes.

The meeting is scheduled in Colombo on November 15.