Chennai:
DMK chief M Karunanidhi who quit the Prime Minister's coalition has blamed India for what he describes as a weak UN resolution against Sri Lanka. A vote on the resolution, which is sponsored by the US and deals with alleged atrocities against the country's Tamil civilians, will be held later this week.
"India's appreciation of Sri Lanka led to the deletion of a demand for international investigation," said Mr Karunanidhi.
The government has rejected that charge. "It is a canard that India diluted the resolution sponsored by the US, " said Finance Minister P Chidambaram this morning.
Mr Karunanidhi also said that he had made it clear that he wanted India to take two initiatives simultaneously: move amendments to the UN resolution to accuse Sri Lanka of a genocide and ask for an international inquiry; and a parliamentary resolution which would support a similar inquiry.
His emphasis on both those factors being equally important is based on politics in his home state. He has been attacked by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa who said his call for a parliamentary resolution was a cop-out and that it is crucial for India to urge the UN to use stronger language against Sri Lanka.
"I never said I'm fine with a mere parliamentary resolution, said the DMK chief, "I wanted the parliamentary resolution to be moved along with the US resolution (in Geneva)."