Journalism of Courage
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will write to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a day or two expressing regret for not being able to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM),sources have told The Sunday Express. The letter is expected to say that External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid will represent him.
As reported in The Indian Express on Saturday,the PM has been under pressure within the Congress and from Tamil parties not to attend because of Sri Lankas alleged violation of human rights of Tamils there. The Congress core group headed by Sonia Gandhi vetoed the visit on Friday.
At a media briefing to announce the upcoming Asia Europe meeting of foreign ministers,MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said the government was yet to communicate to Sri Lanka who will lead the Indian delegation at CHOGM.
Asked about the possibility of Vice President Ansarirepresenting India – a decision not to send him was taken early this week,as reported in The Indian Express – the MEA spokesperson said that in the last 20 years India has been represented by Prime Minister in only five of 10 CHOGM summits,by cabinet ministers four times,and by the vice president once. Manmohan Singh had gone as a finance minister in 1993,in place of PM P V Narasimha Rao.
We focused on what is required for our national interest,our foreign policy priorities and our international obligations… we have our delegations led by different people, he said.
