Indian Parliament erupts in uproar over Sri Lanka

Both houses of the Indian Parliament had to be adjourned earlier yesterday after parliamentarians were in uproar over the Indian government’s failure to hold Sri Lanka accountable for allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Members of the AIADMK and its rival DMK, along with members of the BJP and Left parties came together in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha demanding to know the Indian government’s stand on the proposed resolution on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council.

The MPs staged a vociferous protest, carrying newspaper reports of atrocities in Sri Lanka, and demanded that Indian Prime Minister Mamohan Singh, who was present in Parliament, clarify India’s position on the proposed resolution.

V Maitreyan of the AIADMK said: “The entire world knows about the war crimes against Sri Lankan Tamils. The Tamil Nadu chief minister has raised this issue with the prime minister. We want an answer from the prime minister...  will they support the UN resolution.”

The furore prompted Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to respond: “The traditional position of India has always been, not only in respect of this case, that we normally do not support any country-specific resolution. But what view on this issue will be taken will be determined as and when the time will be finalised in respect of the meeting of the Human Rights Commission.”

The uproar comes just days after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wrote to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Manmohan Singh stating that he wanted to avoid “deepening confrontation and mistrust” between India and Sri Lanka, yet wanted to achieve a “forward looking” outcome on accountability.