Out of line

This public ministerial clamour is unseemly. Union ministers should know better than to respond,or to be seen to respond,solely as representatives from Tamil Nadu. They are obliged to keep the national interest and Indias international commitments separate from what it takes to rally their political base at home. Moreover,the question of the Sri Lanka governments human rights record is not one that exclusively concerns Tamil Nadu India is deeply invested in a fair outcome in which the Sri Lanka government honours its commitments towards reconciliation. It has been extending assistance for post-war rehabilitation and reconstruction. While Sri Lanka has held provincial elections,there is much ground still to be covered,especially in terms of resolving disagreements over the 13th amendment to give equal rights to Tamil citizens. Yet,equally importantly,India cannot afford to strike postures over a single issue to the extent of neglecting the imperatives of a wider engagement with a neighbour that is key to its strategic efforts in the Indian Ocean. The CHOGM is a multilateral event that will be attended by all Commonwealth nations except Canada. The prime ministers visit could be a chance to press Sri Lanka on the work to be done on the Tamil front,as well as to discuss other issues like the safety of Indian fishermen.

The UPA ministers who have spoken of a boycott should remember that as members of the cabinet,they are bound to accept its collective decision. Letting their personal views be known,in an attempt to placate their voters,can corrode the resolve of the cabinet and prime minister,especially on high-stakes matters of strategy. The government should not let its diplomatic agenda be dictated by a few out-of-line ministers.