India should declare support for US-backed resolution: Karuna

Chennai, Mar 9: M Karunanidhi on Friday said India should declare support for the US-backed resolution against Sri Lanka in the ongoing United Nations Human Rights Council meet in Geneva for alleged “war crimes” on Tamils during the internal conflict.

“The tears have not dried up. If those in the Central government watched those visuals just once they would realise the importance of the plea made on behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu,” Karunanidhi, whose party is a key constituent of UPA at the Centre, said in a statement here.

The DMK patriarch’s statement pressing the party’s demand comes a day after External Affairs Minister SM Krishna said in Chennai that India’s stand would be taken based on the overall ties between the two neighbours and the sentiments in Tamil Nadu.

Noting Krishna’s remarks, Karunanidhi said that he was moved by certain visuals shot during the last part of the internal conflict involving the Sri Lankan Army and the LTTE.

DMK leader TR Baalu had taken up the matter with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 2 March, he said.

Quoting from the resolution moved by the US, Karunanidhi said it called for a probe into killings and abduction and other human rights violations.

“Therefore, without any further delay, Indian government should consider the atrocities and war crimes unleashed by the Sri Lankan government (Army) on the Tamils, and declare that it will vote in support of the US-moved resolution,” he stressed.

PTI