New Delhi/Chennai:
The DMK, which quit the government this morning, has said two moves by the government could help it reconsider. (Read:
DMK quit because it had no choice, says Kanimozhi)
Firstly, it wants India to introduce strong language in a US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. Secondly, the DMK wants the Indian Parliament to adopt a resolution against Sri Lanka before the vote is held in Geneva on March 21-22.
The government said today it is examining both options.
The DMK is upset that the US has chosen not to demand an international enquiry into allegations of massive war crimes against Tamil civilians by the Sri Lankan defence forces in the final phase of the civil war with Tamil Tiger separatists. (
Read) The US resolution asks for Sri Lanka to conduct an internal probe into human rights violations.
DMK chief M Karunanidhi wants India to add amendments to the US resolution that condemn "genocide and war crimes" in Sri Lanka, and ask for an international and time-bound inquiry to assign accountability. Sources say that India will use the term "genocide" and may opt for "atrocities" if it asks for changes to the resolution in Geneva. (Read:
10-point cheat-sheet on the story)
On the issue of whether Parliament can adopt a resolution on Sri Lanka, the government says it has begun consulting political parties. But sources say the main opposition party, the BJP, may not agree, because the move against Sri Lanka could allow other countries to pass resolutions on India's internal affairs. The BJP also recognises that though the government will not collapse without the DMK, it's in a tight spot. (
See the math)
For its survival, it is now more dependent than ever on the Samajwadi Party, which lends it external support. Of late, the Congress and the Samajwadi chief, Mulayam Singh Yadav, have differed on important issues. Mr Yadav is also smarting from allegations that he has links to terrorists, made publicly by senior minister Beni Prasad Verma, who has so far refused to apologise for his remarks, though he has been castigated by his party.
The UN has estimated that some 40,000 people were killed in the final months of the war, while rights groups put the death toll even higher. Sri Lanka denies that its forces killed civilians.
The issue is important for political parties in Tamil Nadu, because Tamil voters have close ties to their counterparts in Sri Lanka. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa attacked the DMK today, stating that accepting a parliamentary resolution against Sri Lanka is a cop-out, and that India must push for international action against the island.