Manmohan Singh not to attend CHOGM in Sri Lanka

Bowing to the pressure from South Indian parties, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has decided to not attend upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meet (CHOGM) in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Instead of Manmohan Singh now External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid will attend the meet and represent India.

India will send a letter Sri Lanka government shortly to convey the decision.

Manmohan Singh has been facing tremendous objection from Tamil Nadu parties and leaders within the UPA to attend the meet in Sri Lanka.

Last week Environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan has met Prime Minister requested him to boycott the schedule CHOGM meet over war crimes and violence against Tamils there. Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Shipping Minister GK Vasan and Defence Minister A K Antony also have advised him to skip CHOGM.

UPA alliance and DMK chief Karunanidhi has warned PM for the consequences if he goes to Sri Lanka.

“The Prime Minister has a conscience, enough if acts according to his conscience. I did not threaten on withdrawing support. It’s been long time since we withdrew our support,” DMK chief Karunanidhi said.

“The documentary exposes Sri Lankan government and they continue with human rights violation. We cannot accept Sri Lanka as a civilised nation. India should not attend the meeting. We had Indira Gandhi and Rajeev Gandhi who condemned these acts, don’t know what’s happened with the government of India. If India is afraid then that is wrong,” DMK leader TKS Elangovan had said.

The Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India Prasad Kariawasam had earlier warned India that it will isolated if Prime Minister boycotts CHOGM meet.  

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