The UPA government faced intense pressure from the ADMK and ally DMK on Wednesday to vote for the US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka for alleged war crimes against Tamils.
Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa expressed dissatisfaction over PM Manmohan Singh’s “non-committal” stand on the resolution, while DMK chief M Karunanidhi entertained questions on the possibility of withdrawing support to the Congress-led UPA.
ADMK chief Jayalalithaa demanded India vote for the resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva on March 23.
Karunanidhi said DMK would deem it a betrayal of Tamils if the Centre did not support the resolution. “I cannot decide on withdrawing support to the Centre on this. We will discuss and decide in our executive,” he added.
The issue rocked Parliament. ADMK members walked out from the Rajya Sabha after tearing copies of the statement by external affairs minister SM Krishna, who said India was yet to take a view on the resolution.
Krishna said India was looking for reconciliation and accountability, not deepening confrontation and mistrust.
DMK members staged a walkout in Lok Sabha, which was later adjourned for about 30 minutes following sloganeering by AIADMK members.
State leaders have urged the PM to back the resolution against Sinhala-majority Lanka for atrocities against minority Tamils during the last phase of its fight against the LTTE.
The civil war in Sri Lanka ended in May 2009 following the death of LTTE chief V Prabhakaran and many Tigers cadre.
{{/usCountry}}The civil war in Sri Lanka ended in May 2009 following the death of LTTE chief V Prabhakaran and many Tigers cadre.
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