PM should visit Lanka to render justice: PC

Chennai: Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Sat­u­rday made a strong case for the Prime Min­ister visiting Sri Lanka to get justice for Tamils in the island, while def­ending Centre’s decisi­on to send the external affairs minister led delegation to Colombo for CHOGM.

Speaking on the topic ‘Livelihood of Lankan Tamils and stand of In­dian government’ org­an­ised by the party here, Chidambaram said, “PM might visit the Island. Chief Minister Vign­eshwaran’s inv­i­tation is still alive.”

Adding that elevation of Vigneshwaran, a Ta­m­il, should be used to implement the 13th am­e­ndment, Chida­mb­aram wondered how could the political rig­hts of Tamils be protected and the displaced Tamils be resettled and rehabilitated without continuously engagement with the island government.

Admitting that the first UNHCR resolution was a diluted one without strong clauses expe­cted by India and Lan­kan president Mahinda Rajapasksa was “deeply angered” when India pushed for a strongly worded resolution then and again later in 2012, Chidambaram refer­red to the recent steps taken by the island government to dilute the 13th amendment and still exuded confidence that Rajapaksa would change his ways and work for the full implementation of the 13th amendment as per the Rajiv-Jayawardane accord.

“I assure in the name of Rajiv that we will implement the 13th am­e­ndment,” the finance minister said gradually got in to poll mode by holding the BJP responsible for the Centre not passing a resolution in the Parliament against Lanka earlier.

Recalling BJP’s opposition to passing a resolution and reluctance to participate in an all-party meeting to discu­ss the tabling of the resolution, he asked, “Will BJP win election and take steps to protect the welfare of Lankan Ta­mils?” This, he said despite stating at the beg­inning that the mee­ting was not to oppose or fault anyone but to look ahead on the issue.