Home Minister P Chidambaram defends India backing US sponsored resolution

TIRUCHIRAPALLI: Home Minister P Chidambaram today defended India supporting the U.S.sponsored resolution at UN's top human rights body censuring Sri Lanka for alleged rights violations in the war against LTTE, saying it would not have been carried as expected if the country had hesitated.

"Had we not rendered our support, things would have been different... had we hestitated even a little, the resolution would not have been carried as expected by us," he said.

Pointing out that 24 countries, including India, had voted for it, 15 against and eight had abstained, Chidambaram expressed the confidence that even countries like Saudi Arabia and Pakistan could be 'convinced'' through India's diplomatic approach.

On March 22, the 47-member UN Human Rights Council had adopted the resolution, noting with concern that an internal inquiry report in Sri Lanka does not adequately address "serious allegations" of violations of international law.

It had also asked Colombo to present as expeditiously as possible a comprehensive action plan on steps to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission and address alleged violations of international law

On the Kudankulam nuclear power plant issue, Chidambaram said government would not revert the decision to commission the project and there could not be any change in it.

He noted the decision to commission KNPP had been arrived at after studying the report of the expert committees of the Centre and the state government.

Earlier, addressing the gathering, former TNCC presidents K V Thangkabalu and E V K S Elangaovan said Congress welcomes Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's request to give the entire power generated from KNPP to the state.