Amid Sri Lanka heat, Indian envoy to Geneva called

Tuesday, 19 March 2013 01:20 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

India on Monday asked its envoy in Geneva to return for consultations on the US resolution on Sri Lanka, as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa asked New Delhi to take a tough stand against Colombo as the UPA tried to placate DMK leader M. Karunanidhi.



Ambassador and India to the UN in Geneva permanent representative Dilip Sinha will be in Sri Lanka today to brief the Government on the resolution, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said in New Delhi.

The issue has gained urgency with political parties and activists in Tamil Nadu, urging the Government to back the resolution as last year and amend it to denounce Colombo for the ‘genocide’ of Tamils.

The resolution is expected to come up for voting at the 47-member UNHRC session in Geneva on 21 March.

Sentiments are running high against Sri Lanka in Tamil Nadu, where large numbers of students have taken to the streets denouncing the death of Tamil civilians in the war against the Tamil Tigers.

Authorities have been forced to shut many colleges and hostels as a Buddhist monk was attacked by Tamil activists at a railway station in Chennai yesterday.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman said the resolution “In the final form will be available late this evening, Geneva time.”

“We will have consultations on the matter, and he (Indian envoy to Geneva) will be able to brief senior officials on the ground level realities in Geneva and the latest position,” he added.

When asked what position India was likely to take on the resolution, the spokesperson said a call would be taken after the final text was available and the arrival of the Ambassador from Geneva.

Asked if New Delhi favoured the word ‘genocide’, he said the Government would “Cross the bridge when we come to it.”

With the DMK, which has 18 MPs, threatening to end its support to the United Progressive Alliance if India remained soft vis-a-vis Sri Lanka, the Government sent three senior ministers to Chennai to meet Karunanidhi.

 

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