NSA summons Lankan envoy over civilian casualties

As the temperature down South is increasing over the killing of Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka...

As the temperature down South is increasing over the killing of Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka, notably from key UPA ally and DMK chief M Karunanidhi, the Government on Monday moved in to douse the anger as National Security Advisor M K Narayanan summoned Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner to express “grave concern” at the situation.

An official statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner G G A D Palithaganegoda was summoned by the NSA on Monday to express India’s concern and unhappiness at the growing casualties of unarmed Tamil civilians as a result of military action.”

“It was pointed out that there was need for the Sri Lankan Government to act with greater restraint and address the growing feeling of insecurity among the minority community,” the statement said.

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The Government’s move to field the National Security Advisor — a political appointee, and not a diplomat — makes it amply clear that the exercise is meant more to score political brownie points and the diplomatic establishment has been kept away from this exercise, although New Delhi’s diplomatic stance has been maintained by the NSA as well.

The Government also sounded prescriptive to deal with the situation as the MEA statement said, “to stem the deteriorating humanitarian situation, the need to revive the political process was highlighted.”