No decision on PM attending CHOGM: MEA

Lanka NPC CM sends Manmohan invitation letter to visit Jaffna.

India is faced with a dilemma over Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs visit to Sri Lanka to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) summit,as Singh has received an invitation from the newly-elected Chief Minister from Sri Lankas Northern Provincial Council (NPC) to visit Jaffna.

NPCs Chief Minister C V Wigneswaran is learnt to have sent a one-page letter to the Prime Minister,which says,It is my duty to thank you and your esteemed country to pursuade the Sri Lankan government to hold the NPC elections under the 13th amendment. I take this opportunity to invite you to Jaffna…my people will consider it a great honour to welcome you.

Wigneswarans missive has added a new twist in the ongoing discussions in Delhi over Prime Ministers participation at the CHOGM Summit. This is contrary to the parties in Tamil Nadu which are strongly opposed to Singhs participation in the summit,alleging that Sri Lanka has indulged in atrocities against ethnic Tamils.

In the wake of pulls and pressures from different directions,the MEAs official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin made it clear Thursday that no decision has been taken so far on whether the Prime Minister will attend the CHOGM meet in Sri Lanka on November 15-16.

Contrary to reports that the Prime Minister will attend the summit,he asserted that the decision will be taken after considering all aspects including national interest and international obligations.

When asked whether it was usual for the CM of a country to write a letter to the Prime Minister,Akbaruddin said that the relationship between India and Sri Lanka should not be characterised as usual.

It is a very strong relationship,it is a very close relationship,and it is a relationship where India has worked with Sri Lanka for a variety of issues including the welfare of the people in the northern areas who have been adversely impacted. So,let us not judge these things by the usual parameters of what you think is usual. The spokespersons comment comes a day after the Congress Core Committee met to discuss the strategy to be adopted on the contentious issue.

Minister urges PM to boycott summit in Colombo

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New Delhi: Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday and urged him that India should boycott the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) summit in Sri Lanka keeping in mind the sentiments of Tamil Nadu parties.India has not taken any final decision on the Commonwealth summit, he told mediapersons after meeting Singh. It would be announced at an appropriate time, the minister added. Vasan said the Prime Minister gave him a patient hearing. The Prime Minister informed that he would act keeping the sentiments of people of Tamil Nadu in mind over Sri Lanka. He had assured to take a good decision, he added. PTI