New Delhi:
Parties from Tamil Nadu have demanded again that the government must commit to voting against Sri Lanka for its alleged war crimes at a United National Human Rights Council session in Geneva. The DMK, which is a senior partner in the coalition at the centre, has again reiterated that it could pull out of the government if its demand is ignored. "I alone can't decide whether we will withdraw support... our executive will meet and decide. The DMK will deem it as a betrayal of Tamils if the centre does not support the resolution on Sri Lanka," said the DMK president, M Karunanidhi.
Members of Parliament from the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu walked out of the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday morning after tearing up the statement made by Foreign Affairs Minister SM Krishna on the issue. Mr Krishna said India would "need to examine whether our actions will actually assist in the process of reconciliation in Sri Lanka, and enhance the current dialogue between the Government of Sri Lanka and Tamil parties." The minister said a date has yet to be fixed for the vote on the resolution against Sri Lanka, which has been moved by the US, France and Norway. (
Read Krishna's entire statement)
Despite an appeal from Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday night, the DMK has not withdrawn its amendments to the vote of thanks on the President's address.