PM to skip CHOGM Summit, Khurshid to head delegation

Manmohan stays aways due to opposition by parties in Tamil Nadu as well as a section in Congress

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid will head the Indian delegation at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) Summit to be held in Sri Lanka next week with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh deciding against undertaking the visit in view of the opposition by parties in Tamil Nadu, as well as a section in the Congress.

The decision on the level of Indian representation and Singh skipping the meet would be communicated to the Lankan government by tomorrow, sources said. “The Prime Minister is likely to write to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa by tomorrow regarding his decision,” government sources said. However, there was no official announcement over Singh’s decision to skip the summit to be held on November 15-16. Political parties in Tamil Nadu and several other outfits have opposed India’s participation at any level in the CHOGM meet alleging that the Sri Lankan government had committed gross violation of human rights and had no plans to devolve powers to the ethnic Tamils.

However, Khurshid has been favouring Singh's presence in the CHOGM scheduled on November 15, maintaining it was vital as it would reflect India's interests. According to Ministry of External Affairs, it is also paramount to the nation's strategic and security interests.

Asked if there was a possibility of Vice-President Hamid Ansari representing India at the CHOGM if Singh decides not to go, MEA spokesperson did not give a direct reply.

He, however, said in 10 summit level meetings since 1993, the Prime Minister represented India five times while on four occasions, ministers had headed the Indian delegation. There was one instance of the Vice-President representing India.

“So what you can summarise from this is, what we have followed in terms of participation in the CHOGM, is an approach of something akin to horses for courses. We focused on what is required for our national interest, our foreign policy priorities and our international obligations. Taking those into account we have our delegations led by different people,” he said.