PM's decision will be our decision: Congress on CHOGM

NEW DELHI: Congress today said it will back whatever decision Prime Minister Manmohan Singh takes on India's pariticpation in the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Sri Lanka later this month keeping in mind national interests.

Party spokesperson Meem Afzal downplayed the issue of Congress ministers from Tamil Nadu conveying to the Prime Minister that he should not attend the Summit.

"Anybody has a right to express his or her views. Those from Tamil Nadu have their own situations. The decision will be taken in the interest of the nation. We are hopeful that the interest of the country will be taken care of," Afzal said.

Union Ministers V Narayanasamy, Jayanthi Natarajan and G K Vasan have opposed the Prime Minister's participation in the summit.

To a question about the political fall out for Congress in Tamil Nadu if the Prime Minister visited Sri Lanka to attend CHOGM, Afzal said "it's not a question of Congress winning or not winning there. The most important thing is that what is important for the nation's interests to which Congress is committed."

He said Congress' decision in the matter will be what is decided by the Prime Minister.

Political parties and various outfits in Tamil Nadu are strongly opposed to India's participation in CHOGM and Tamil Nadu Assembly had recently adopted a resolution demanding New Delhi completely boycott it and also have Sri Lanka suspended from the Commonwealth till Colombo ensured equal status for Tamils.