India-Lanka ties hang in balance after UNHRC vote

After India joined a majority of UNHRC members to support a resolution censuring Sri Lanka for alleged rights violation of its Tamil minority, focus now is on its impact on Colombo-New Delhi ties. Sri Lankan dailies go to town over India's UN vote

After India joined a majority of UNHRC members to support a resolution censuring Sri Lanka for alleged rights violation of its Tamil minority, focus now is on its impact on Colombo-New Delhi ties.

Opinion in India seemed divided with DMK expressing its happiness over India's stand and Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy calling it a "monumental blunder".

"It's a monumental blunder. India has shown that we don't care for our backyard. We became a junior partner and destroyed our independence," Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy told CNN-IBN.

After the resolution Sri Lanka said it was unhappy with New Delhi.

But Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, "We don't want to infringe on Sri Lanka's sovereignty but our concerns should be expressed so Tamils get justice and dignity."

India voted in favour of the UN resolution against Colombo to placate the UPA's ally DMK with party chief M Karunanidhi taking a hard line on the issue.

"Most important is making sure that Tamils get their rights and they get justice," DMK leader Kanimozhi said.