Khurshid leaves for CHOGM amidst protests

New Delhi, Nov 13: Notwithstanding demands for a total boycott from political parties in Tamil Nadu, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid leaves on a five-day visit to Colombo for representing India in the three-day CHOGM Summit to be held from November 15.

Khurshid will be deputising for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, whose attendance became a casualty in the competitive politics of Tamil Nadu, where the state assembly has passed resolutions for total boycott of CHOGM by India.

Political parties in Tamil Nadu have attacked the Rajpakse Government over its human rights record during the war against LTTE and total lack of concerns for the Tamils living in the country.

Also accusing the Sri Lankan Government of not devolving powers to the Tamil areas in accordance with the 13th amendment to the Constitution, the parties have demanded that neither the Prime Minister nor Khurshid should attend the summit of 54 nations.

Slamming the Centre, a resolution moved by Chief Minister Jayalalitha said today:"Respecting the sentiments and feeling of Tamils, even for namesake, none should represent India in the Commonwealth Summit. This House again demands the Indian Government that the country should boycott completely this CHOGM."

While late last week the Prime Minister decided against attending the summit in view of the strong sentiments in Tamil Nadu, he decided to depute Khurshid.

PTI