Government should take forthright position on Sri Lanka human rights issue: CPI

NEW DELHI: CPI, which has been opposing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Colombo to attend the CHOGM meet, today asked the government to take a forthright position on alleged human rights violation in Sri Lanka by condemning it and raising it at the international fora.

"It is being speculated that the Prime Minister may not go (to Colombo) though the government is yet to make a formal announcement. Even if such an announcement is made, it is too late. Had it been done earlier, it would have sent a strong message to the Commonwealth community," party National Secretary D Raja said here.

If the Prime Minister puts off his visit, then the government, instead of blaming domestic compulsions, should take "a forthright, honest and politically moral position that India condemns HR violations, genocide and other war crimes in Sri Lanka," he said.

"Such a stand should be the beginning of a new initiative by India in recasting its policy towards Sri Lanka and raising the issues of war crimes and HR violations at global fora."

Maintaining that the Congress too was a party to the unanimous resolution passed by Tamil Nadu Assembly on the issue, Raja accused the Centre of showing "callousness" in not sending a senior minister to meet Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa who has been raising these issues, including that of Indian fishermen.

The senior CPI leader also castigated Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma for his reported statement that Commonwealth's role and relevance went much beyond the issue of human rights in Sri Lanka.

"What is Sharma's understanding of the Commonwealth charter? Such diplomats and bureaucrats are equally responsible for India committing blunder after blunder on various issues, including this one. They should leave this to the political community," Raja said.