NEW DELHI, Feb 27:
The Government today informed the Rajya Sabha that it has not made up its mind yet on the stand to be taken on the US Resolution on Sri Lanka, coming up in the United Nations Human Rights Commission in March, and asserted that it did not have a ”blinkered vision” of the developments in the island nation.
The Government which came under fire for ”remaining blind” to the atrocities against Lankan Tamils, reaffirmed its commitment to their welfare and rehabilitation and the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan constitution.
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said India was working with the Sri Lankan Government to evolve a situation in which not only the Tamil population was happy and prosperous but Sri Lankan territorial integrity was also respected.
Mr Khurshid was replying to a calling attention motion on the situation in Sri Lanka in the light of the atrocities against the Tamil population, including the killing of Balachandran, the 12-year old-son of slain LTTE chief V Prabhakaran by Lankan Army.
He said there should be elections in the island nation as early as possible and he had been told that the elections would take place in September.
”There is no question of having a blinkered vision of the situation in Sri Lanka…We are vigilant and will remain vigilant,” he said.
Mr Khurshid said there should be elections as early as possible.
”I am told the elections are in September. At that time the world will have a chance to know…There should be total participation of Tamils with whom we are in total solidarity,” he added.
To repeated queries by some members about India’s stand on the US Resolution, Mr Khurshid said India would take a position based on the sense of the House.
”What is our position, I can’t predict today. We will come back to the House whenever we take a stand…We want a sustainable settlement of the issues in Sri Lanka,” he said.
Earlier during the debate, the House witnessed some emotional speeches by members, particularly by Tiruchi Siva (DMK) who said the Sri Lankan Government was not serious in implementing the 13th amendment and was committing severe atrocities against the Tamil population there.
The members were unanimous that it be treated as a national issue and not merely that of Tamils and Sri Lanka.
The Minister said the Government was committed to seeing an end to hostilities which were ”very sad” and was ”totally and utterly” committed to the dignity of the people in Sri Lanka.
Referring to the killing of Balachandran, the Minister said it had to be pin-pointed who was responsible and accountable and for that purpose, India was engaged with the Sri Lankan Government.
”Accountability should be from within and cannot be imposed from outside…Acountability is necessary but must come from within,” he said.
(UNI)
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