Karunanidhi wants CHOGM shifted from Lanka

Tamil Nadu’s DMK has appealed to the Indian Central Government to exert pressure for shifting the venue of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) from Sri Lanka where it is slated to be held in November.

Party President M. Karunanidhi, citing media reports, said a recent Commonwealth Legal Conference at Capetown where Chief Justices of 27 countries had participated, had resolved that Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) meeting in London on 26 April should decide on removing Sri Lanka from the Commonwealth among others.

In a letter to party members, he recalled his 6 April statement that DMK MPs and party-backed TESO members will meet envoys of member countries of Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) and explain in detail that the meeting should not be held in Colombo.

The DMK Executive had also last month adopted a resolution seeking shifting of the venue of the CHOGM from Colombo.

“I once again insist that CMAG should support the demand that the meeting should not be held in Sri Lanka and that the Indian Government should exert the required pressure,” he said.

Karunanidhi, whose party quit the UPA coalition over the Sri Lankan Tamils issue last month, claimed there were reports that the Indian Navy had imparted training to 250 Sri Lankan naval personnel onboard three Coast Guard ships- Sujatha, Tarangini and Varuna.

“It is atrocious that despite insistence from those concerned about Eelam Tamils that Sri Lankan Defence personnel should not be trained in any part of the country, they continue.

 There is no way other than condemning the Centre’s act on behalf of Tamil Nadu,” he added. (PTI)